Boccia is a disabled sport that resembles pétanque. Paralympic, it has 200 affiliated clubs. It is based on strategy, precision, and concentration. This article focuses on the final that took place from June 27 to 29, 2025, in Thuir. I had the chance to interview a few finalists, some accompanying them, an arbitrator, several members of the departmental and regional disabled sports committee, and the public.
Women in Unequal Numbers
Boccia is played with six throwing balls (three red and three blue). The objective of the game is to aim for a ball named ‘the jack’ in white color. A line on the ground defines the space not to be exceeded by competitors, resulting in a penalty. Each point will be validated by the referee using a ping-pong racket of two colors and which will be oriented either towards red or towards blue depending on whether the point is awarded.
Among the graduates, the number of women is still a minority according to several studies. However, boccia this year has a champion, Aurélie Aubert, who stood out at the 2024 games in Paris. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the club created by Danielle is composed of seven members including one of the champions present in the final is eleven years old. The club members train assiduously in Trouillas once a week.
This Friday, the matches were selections for Sunday’s final.
Paralympic discipline, boccia is suitable for players using a wheelchair or with reduced mobility. Each game can last between fifteen minutes and an hour and a half. Some games can be long. In some cases, more specific equipment such as a ramp will be used by athletes who need a little more time to organize themselves. This is one of the reasons why an assistant will often be the place.
While moving around the gym, I interviewed some accompanying persons.Members of the team from the island of the meeting: as a rule, these competitions take place at the end of the year, we prefer the fact that it is in the month of June for logistical reasons. It took many hours to come, we present you some of the equipment used for boccia, this will give you a concrete idea.
Once their testimony was collected, I met several members of the departmental committee and the regional disabled sports committee of Occitania. Some clarifications were made following these questions:
“Céline Valette (article editor): Are there many women who practice boccia?
— Marion (referee and member of the committee): Boccia is played by category and currently in France, there are not enough practitioners for a team to be formed. I present to you a person who participates in the interview.
— Céline Valette: Hello, I am writing an article on disabled sports. Are you playing in this final?
— Person present at the interview: No, I am a member of the committee and I accompany in everyday life a child practicing disabled sports.
— Céline Valette: What did he feel about disabled sports and boccia?
— Person present at the interview: He is heading towards the blowpipe instead. Maybe wheelchair basketball will be a next step because he likes it too.
— Céline Valette: It is very common to try several sports, this can change with age.
Céline Valette to the referee: What is the age to start boccia?
— The arbitrator: It is possible to start from 8 years old
— Céline Valette: How many workouts per week?
— The referee: One to several practices it depends on the clubs
— Céline Valette: Boccia will be represented at the next Los Angeles games, won’t it? how many players are at the gym today?
— The referee: Yes, that’s right, boccia will be in Los Angeles in 2028. This weekend there will be 82 athletes. I have to leave you to return with the committee.
— Céline Valette: Thank you.”
A competition under high temperatures
Among the audience, I met a spectator to whom I asked questions:
“Céline Valette: Hello, what do you think of boccia, are you athletic?
— The spectator: I don’t play boccia, however, I have practiced wheelchair badminton for many years, I came to encourage them, it’s a bit of a shame that there isn’t enough visibility for handisport…
— Céline Valette: What do you mean by that?
— The spectator: I think that disabled sports represent a great interest but that there is not always a large audience
— Céline Valette: Boccia is yet to be discovered. On the other hand, it is difficult to know exactly why people did not come. Maybe one of the reasons is that we are a Friday… And what do you think?
— The spectator: There is an audience that does not dare to come. also possible that the Friday slot deterred them. Let’s hope things change for the better.”
It was in a suffocating heat that the athletes evolved during these three final days. However the heatwave did not discourage them for the final on Sunday.
“Céline Valette: Hello, how did the match go today?
— The team from Brittany hosted in town: Overall, our team finished fourth. Next year the final should take place in Brittany. We all come from Saint Malo. We visited a bit of the surroundings between the matches. The heat was difficult to bear… on the return we will travel by night to avoid the high temperatures.”
References and sources for informational purposes: (links in french)
INJEP study on sports participation among people with disabilities