You know many games around the world have bowling as sports in there games. Asia Indoor Games and SEA Games (South East Asia).

Hand ball has been around for a long time, I used to play it some when I was younger at a Boys and Girls Club, and as CG's link showed its been around way before that.

As for gymnastics or swimming meets, they are always happening and there are plenty of spectators whether its family members or friends of those competing, other competitors or people that generally like to watch. These are things people will watch, now they aren't on TV that much but that's more because there is no "professional" outlet. You may occasionally see college meets on some obscure ESPN channel.

I found this on ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/080813

Take a look.

Bill Taylor has already invented such a surface. It was demonstrated to the folks at an FIQ meeting in Reno back in '95 or thereabouts. It was a carpet-like surface with absolutely no conditioner. Scoring required accuracy and consistency. As I recall, John Handegard was able to roll a 300 on it. I tried it and my only complaint was the approach...it was not as slick as I was used to seeing. It was looked upon as an interesting idea but the FIQ mavens were reluctant based on cost, opposition to change in general (Luddite mentality) and it not being readily accepted here in the States. I don't know what became of the concept but Taylor is still around.