The 2022 European Bowls Championships will be held in Ayr from July 9 to 14 ©Getty Images

Next year's European Bowls Championships will be staged in the Scottish town of Ayr, after this year's event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scotland had been due to host the Championships for the first time from August 2 to 7 this year, but with this unable to take place, a recent Annual General Meeting of Bowls Europe confirmed that the National Centre for Bowling in Ayr would stage the 2022 edition from July 9 to 14.

Nineteen European nations are expected to take part, with competitions in men's and women's singles, pairs, triples and fours.

Each player will be able to compete in up to two of the formats.

The chief executive of Bowls Scotland Alan McMillan is looking forward to hosting the event.

"I am excited to welcome Europe’s bowls nations to Scotland and enjoy this celebration of competitive bowls," McMillan said.

"The European Championships will develop over the coming years to provide a vital platform for players to achieve their full potential.

"I am sure the Bowls Europe directors, Bowls Scotland staff, volunteers, players, and spectators will all contribute to a memorable event."

Bowls Scotland also hopes to hold a European Open competition on July 15 and 16 next year, which is planned to be followed by the Bowls Scotland National Championships on July 17.

Scotland share joint-records with England as winners of 20 Commonwealth Games bowls gold medals and four-time overall champions at the European Bowls Championships ©Getty Images
Scotland share joint-records with England as winners of 20 Commonwealth Games bowls gold medals and four-time overall champions at the European Bowls Championships ©Getty Images

The 2022 Championships are set to be the 13th edition, with Guernsey the winners of the overall team title when they hosted the event in 2019.

Scotland claimed silver the last time the competition was held.

The chair of Bowls Europe, Bob Christie, added that ideas for a further expansion of next year's Championships are in the pipeline.

"Bowls Europe is delighted that Bowls Scotland is supporting the 2022 European Championships," Christie said.

"I am glad that the new competition format mirrors other major bowls events such as the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

"We are also exploring the opportunity of adding visually impaired and physically disabled Para bowls disciplines alongside the mainstream Championships.

"This would establish the European Championships as the most inclusive premier bowls event in the northern hemisphere."

England and Scotland share a record four overall victories at the Championships.

Both countries have also won 20 bowls gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.