Bocce blows up on Packabocce courts at Cyprus Special Olympics event

The growing sport of bocce took centre stage at the Pan-Cypriot Special Olympics 2024 earlier this month with 80 athletes from Cyprus, Malta and Greece competing in bocce singles action.

This year's event saw more than 650 athletes descend on venues in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca to compete in 10 different sports from 7-22 April.

Bocce is one of the fastest growing sports in Cyprus and three high-quality portable Packabocce courts were brought in to help ensure the Games’ bocce competition in Limassol on 12 April was a success.

Special Olympics Cyprus Office Director Costas Constantinou said more than one in 10 athletes at the Games competed in bocce this year.

“We were proud to be able to provide world-class playing conditions for the national and international athletes in attendance.

“This year’s event has been a massive success – the bar has been set high for future competitions.”

Constantinou said the bocce players were comfortable using Packaworld’s portable courts for top-level competition and setting up for the event was a breeze because the lightweight courts could be transported easily and inflated in a matter of minutes.

“We found the Packabocce courts to be very easy to use. Other courts are made of wood or other heavy materials.”

Constantinou said bocce was popular in Cyprus, with singles, doubles and unified bocce matches all commonplace, particularly in schools.

Unified bocce sees athletes with and without intellectual disabilities competing together in teams and is a growing movement globally.

“During the last few years, after Covid, we’ve had a rapid rise in interest in bocce and we’re currently applying to have three Special Olympics bocce events per year as well as organising seminars for new coaches.

“Bocce is something you can play everywhere, including in schools and clubs without much space. It’s enjoyed by high-level athletes and beginner-level enthusiasts - everyone can enjoy it,” Constantinou said.

Packaworld Chief Executive Peter Roberts said it was not surprising to see bocce’s growing popularity at the Cyprus Games.

“Bocce has retained its popularity over the ages not just because it’s one of the most inclusive sports out there, but also because it’s easy to learn and hard to master. It’s definitely become a star attraction of Special Olympics events worldwide.”

The Pan-Cypriot Special Olympics 2024 began on 7 April with an opening ceremony led by the Mayor of Limassol, Nicos Nicolaides, and was attended by various local and international dignitaries as well as hundreds of citizens who turned out in support.

As well as bocce, athletes competed in a variety of other sports, including in athletics, cycling, bowling, swimming, table tennis, equestrian, rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, motor activity training programme, and young athletes gymnastics, under the slogan ‘Strong together - winners together’.

Video: Bocce at the Pan-Cypriot Special Olympics 2024