Athletes travelling up to 11,000 miles for a chance of world championship glory have made their way to a resort in Hopton.
Potters Resorts' 25th annual World Indoor Bowls Championships begins Friday from the International Arena. Over 17 days, five world titles will be up for grabs.
Competitors from around the globe are eagerly awaiting the beginning of the tournament and their opportunity to taste international acclaim.
Scottie Marzonie made the trip from Mammoth Lakes, California, to take part in the World Championships. To him, bowls is a way of life.
Mr Marzonie, 53, said: "The game is very inspiring.
"Bowls is like therapy. It's a meditative lifestyle, where you have to be so focused on the task at hand. On the rink, nothing else matters."
Mr Marzonie first began playing bowls in 2011, when he and his father participated in the Lawn Bowling US Open.
He received silver in the Singles tournament of the US Nationals in 2018 and won the Professional Bowls Association (PBA) Pairs tournament - with teammate Frankie Napoli - in 2022.
Mr Marzone described his ski resort home as "not really a bowls town", but he continues to be an advocate of the sport and has hopes to represent Team USA should bowls be included at the 2032 Olympics.
"Our long-term focus is the Olympics and we really want to get more people interested in this wonderfully unique sport," he said.
"Right now, Frankie and I are playing really well and we're so excited to get going.
"This is the one thing I will do for the rest of my life."
From Auckland, New Zealand, 30-year-veteran Colin Rogan said this was the "trip of a lifetime". He will be competing in both the singles and pairs tournaments.
Mr Rogan, 75, said: "This is the number one event in the world, and one all PBA players aspire to attend.
"This is a great set up and the resort is fantastic. It's an opportunity to meet high-quality players and just discuss the sport. Everyone is welcoming and the atmosphere is very positive."
Mr Rogan's teammate from Waikato, New Zealand, is Garry Cotter.
Mr Cotter said he was "buzzing" at the honour of representing his home country at the event.
"Of course, we hope to do well - but it's a great thing in and of itself to be here," Mr Cotter, 59, said.
"The sport is very dear to a lot of people and this moment is just fantastic."
Greg Harlow is competing in the singles and 'pairs world matchplay' events with Nicky Brett. Mr Harlow, who is in his ninth year as an ambassador for Potters Bowls, said he is chomping at the bit for the tournament to get started.
"It's been a year in the making, and I had been putting in a lot of practice over Christmas," said Mr Harlow, 54.
"The stadium is set, the rink's looking good and everyone is practising as much as possible. At this stage, everyone is just looking forward to getting started.
"But as the tournament develops, you see all the really interesting match-ups getting lined up. It's a fantastic experience every year."
As part of his role as ambassador, Mr Harlow meets more than 300 bowlers every week.
"You could say I get the lion's share of support when I play," Mr Harlow laughed.
"Unless I'm against a local hero. But either way, the support for the sport is amazing and always appreciated."
World Bowls Tour tournament director Tom Weir said he is excited to welcome back a lot of international players who have been unable to compete at the World Championships since 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
"Everything is looking good and there is a real sense of togetherness this year," Mr Weir said.
"The overseas qualifiers are all here, and the UK qualifiers are in a very strong field - especially in the Singles categories.
"Potters Resorts is a fantastic arena for the best players in the world to compete. There is no better place for this competition.
"We are very excited to see top-class matches take place over the next 17 days."
How you can watch the World Championships
The Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Championships begin on Friday, January 6 and run for 17 days until the Singles Final on Sunday, January 22.
BBC2 will be broadcasting live from Potters Resorts for the final week of the championships, commencing on Monday, January 16. All other matches will be streaming live on YouTube.
Bringing the championships to Norfolk was the brainchild of the late Brian Potter MBE, who built the International Arena to persuade the World Bowls Tour to move from their previous venue. His son, John, has taken up the mantle, ensuring that the Potter family continues to support the sport of bowls.
Day tickets are still available for most days during the championships, and more information can be found at www.pottersresorts.com
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