Bocce is bouncing back in Maryland with the help of portable courts and a unified sports program that brings athletes with intellectual disabilities together with star footballers and other non-disabled peers.

The program is run by Special Olympics Maryland and many of the state’s public schools, which are using the high-quality inflatable courts from Packaworld to run bocce events at high schools, as well as community-based programs for children and older Special Olympics athletes.

"Bocce has become cool,” says Mike Myers, Baltimore Region Director for Special Olympics Maryland.

Bocce, beer and banter. That’s the intoxicating new blend putting smiles on people’s faces this winter at Hi-Wire Brewing’s RAD Beer Garden in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Asheville Bocce Club has launched a winter league at the brewery, with the help of two portable bocce ball courts from Packaworld.

Hi-Wire Brewing Co-Founder Chris Frosaker says the new inflatable courts are being used in the indoor area at Hi-Wire’s newest location, which functions as a distribution centre and features a large beer garden constructed from up-cycled shipping containers.

“While the beer garden is great in summer, the venue is also ideal for a winter indoor bocce league due to its sheer size – 28,000 square feet,” Chris says. “There is a lot of space to spread out and do something unique.”

Portable bocce ball courts are from Packaworld are helping to pump up bocce participation in one of the world’s windiest cities.

Special Olympics Wellington has purchased two Competition Packabocce courts to help grow bocce in New Zealand’s capital and to ensure players can train in all weather.

Bert Warda, the head bocce coach at Special Olympics Wellington, says the high-quality inflatable courts are helping athletes maximise training sessions for future competition.

“It’s fantastic to be able to take them indoors or outdoors depending on the conditions, and the timing is perfect as our region’s bocce players prepare for the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Hamilton in December 2022.”