Bocce is a member of the lawn bowling family which originally came from Italy. It is the third most participated in sport in the special Olympic calendar. Let me tell you a little about the basics of the sport – the goal is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a pallina. Fun fact: Bocce was first launched as a Special Olympics Ireland sport following the Special Olympics World Summer games held in Dublin in 2003!
According to Special Olympics Ireland there were 1,260 Special Olympics Ireland athletes that participated in Bocce in 2019. The surface of your chosen bocce court can be made up of a few different things. Dirt, grass or even an artificial surface like our bocce mat here in the centre are a few options. The pallina is that small yellow ball in the photo, the aim is to get your bocce ball closest to. It can also be known as a “cue” ball or a “jack.”
In Lakers, Bocce is a member favourite, with classes always being full of fun, chats and support for each other. Back in March our Bocce players took part in the Special Olympics Bocce Advancement Competition. They came home with some fabulous achievements. Luke Campion came home with a Gold, Ciara Fagan and Mary Foley each got a silver medal, Ciara Garvey, Nathan Philips and Anne Edwards all brought a bronze back with them and Nigel Phillips carried a 4th place Ribbon back to Lakers. We couldn’t have been any more proud of each and every one of them!
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