Revolutionary bocce courts star at Special Olympics Youth Games

Portable courts making bocce ball more accessible around the world were used last week to host the next generation of bocce ball stars at the Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games in Canada.

More than 2,000 student athletes from around the world descended on Toronto for the four-day event, which ran from 14-17 May.

The bocce ball competition was held at the University of Toronto’s St George Campus, where more than 240 young athletes competed for gold on 10 inflatable Packabocce courts.

The innovative courts feature a lightweight but durable design that makes them easier to transport, set up and store than bocce ball courts made out of wood or PVC piping.

“The courts looked great and the athletes loved them,” said Kirsten Bobbie, Special Olympics Ontario Manager of Operations and Logistics - 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games.

“We were really impressed with how easy they are for our volunteers to set up. They made the Games' experience painless and allowed our volunteers to focus on the amazing young athletes who are giving it their all.”

Packaworld Chief Executive Peter Roberts attended the Special Olympics Ontario Youth Games as part of the official Observers Programme. He said he was impressed with Toronto and enjoyed the quality of the competition.

“I’ve been to Special Olympics events in the past and I’m always blown away by the professionalism of the organisers and absolute determination, passion and skill of the athletes.”

Ms Bobbie said the portable Packabocce courts used during the event would be used across Ontario once the Games were over, helping to ensure the global event left a legacy that would grow the sport of bocce ball in future years.

“The portability and storability of the courts is a huge bonus,” Ms Bobbie said. “These will allow us to take bocce events anywhere, whether it’s a major Special Olympics competition or a small community event at a local school.”

Packabocce courts are used by a growing number of Special Olympics chapters and have featured at major Special Olympics competitions in the past, including the Latin American Special Olympics Games, Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games, Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games and Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games.

Globally, bocce ball is one of the fastest growing Special Olympics sports, played by tens of thousands of Special Olympics athletes around the world. The accessibility of bocce ball to people of all abilities makes it an ideal platform for unified sports competitions, which promote social inclusion by bringing together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.