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Pétanque relaunches campaign to get Olympic recognition Pétanque relaunches campaign to get Olympic recognition
(34 minutes later)
Summer in the south of France would not be complete without a glass of pastis and a game of pétanque.Summer in the south of France would not be complete without a glass of pastis and a game of pétanque.
The clink of metal boule on metal boule accompanied by the chirp of a thousand cicadas is to the French, what the thwack of leather on willow is to the season’s cricketers the other side of the Channel. The clink of metal boule on metal boule accompanied by the chirp of a thousand cicadas is to the French what the thwack of leather on willow is to the season’s cricketers the other side of the Channel.
Now, pétanque fans – including a growing number of players in Britain are relaunching the campaign to have the game recognised as an Olympic sport and included in the 2024 summer games, which Paris is bidding to host. Now, pétanque fans – including a growing number of players in Britain – are relaunching the campaign to have the game recognised as an Olympic sport and included in the 2024 summer games, which Paris is bidding to host.
Various boules organisations have spent well over a decade trying to persuade the Olympic committee to recognise the sport, without success.Various boules organisations have spent well over a decade trying to persuade the Olympic committee to recognise the sport, without success.
Claude Azéma, president of the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules that is leading the latest Olympic bid, told the Guardian: “We are reasonably optimistic. For a new sport to be included, another one either has to go or the number of teams taking part in an existing sport has to be reduced.Claude Azéma, president of the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules that is leading the latest Olympic bid, told the Guardian: “We are reasonably optimistic. For a new sport to be included, another one either has to go or the number of teams taking part in an existing sport has to be reduced.
“It’s not about excluding any sports, it’s about being inclusive. We just want some, like masculine football that has a World Cup, to field fewer teams and make room for us.“It’s not about excluding any sports, it’s about being inclusive. We just want some, like masculine football that has a World Cup, to field fewer teams and make room for us.
“It’s a long campaign but we hope we will see boules as an Olympic sport by 2024 and we’ll do our best to get there.”“It’s a long campaign but we hope we will see boules as an Olympic sport by 2024 and we’ll do our best to get there.”
The latest attempt, under the slogan “Same sport, different disciplines”, will begin in earnest in October. From 2020 host cities will be able to include a handful of extra sports of their choosing, giving French aficionados extra hope if Paris wins the games. The latest attempt, under the slogan “Same sport, different disciplines”, will begin in earnest in October. From 2020, host cities will be able to include a handful of extra sports of their choosing, giving French aficionados extra hope if Paris wins the games.
Azéma said the sport had an estimated 30 million players worldwide, of whom around 1 million belong to one of the 272 national federations that exist in 162 countries. Azéma said the sport had an estimated 30 million players worldwide, of whom about 1 million belong to one of the 272 national federations that exist in 162 countries.
In the organisation’s pamphlet Azéma writes: “The sport promotes the gathering of men and women regardless of their age, origin, roots, religion or social and professional background. It is a socially unifying and health-promoting leisure sport that deserves to be given Olympic status.” In the organisation’s pamphlet, Azéma writes: “The sport promotes the gathering of men and women regardless of their age, origin, roots, religion or social and professional background. It is a socially unifying and health-promoting leisure sport that deserves to be given Olympic status.”
A Facebook page dedicated to the game’s candidature for Olympic status showing various officials and celebrities photographed holding a boule has 32,000 likes.A Facebook page dedicated to the game’s candidature for Olympic status showing various officials and celebrities photographed holding a boule has 32,000 likes.
Frenchman Thierry Tomasin, 46, who runs the Angelus restaurant in London and has lived in the British capital for 24 years, launched the Londonaise international pétanque competition, a British version of the celebrated annual Marseille tournament, two years ago.Frenchman Thierry Tomasin, 46, who runs the Angelus restaurant in London and has lived in the British capital for 24 years, launched the Londonaise international pétanque competition, a British version of the celebrated annual Marseille tournament, two years ago.
While this year’s Mondial la Marseillaise, held in July, attracted more than 13,000 players from around 20 countries and tens of thousands of spectators, the second Londonaise drew a more modest 72 teams and a total of 274 players. Tomasisn says there are around 2,000 registered pétanque players in Britain, some of them French who have settled in the UK, but many of them British. While this year’s Mondial la Marseillaise, held in July, attracted more than 13,000 players from about 20 countries and tens of thousands of spectators, the second Londonaise drew a more modest 72 teams and a total of 274 players. Tomasin says there are about 2,000 registered pétanque players in Britain, some of them French who have settled in the UK but many of them British.
“We have clubs in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and a growing number of Irish players, Tomasin said. “It’s a wonderful game and it would be fantastic for it to be an Olympic sport. The ultimate dream.”“We have clubs in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and a growing number of Irish players, Tomasin said. “It’s a wonderful game and it would be fantastic for it to be an Olympic sport. The ultimate dream.”
Tomasin added: “My personal dream would be to play pétanque for England. That would be the icing on the cake. He added: “My personal dream would be to play pétanque for England. That would be the icing on the cake. I come from Toulouse and I started to play with my father when I was five or six years old, so I have grown up with the game.”
“I come from Toulouse and I started to play with my father when I was five or six years old, so I have grown up with the game.”
The term “boules” is a more generic term encompassing various similar ball games, including the Italian bocce and raffa games and French pétanque, which also has different versions.The term “boules” is a more generic term encompassing various similar ball games, including the Italian bocce and raffa games and French pétanque, which also has different versions.
The Olympic committee may have a headache working out the rules of the sport if it is accepted for the summer games. Bocce is played on a smooth, carefully prepared surface with solid wooden or plastic balls that are larger than the hollow metal balls used in petanque, which can be played almost anywhere. Certain boules games involve taking a short run or walk at the shot and there are variations where the ball is thrown or rolled.The Olympic committee may have a headache working out the rules of the sport if it is accepted for the summer games. Bocce is played on a smooth, carefully prepared surface with solid wooden or plastic balls that are larger than the hollow metal balls used in petanque, which can be played almost anywhere. Certain boules games involve taking a short run or walk at the shot and there are variations where the ball is thrown or rolled.
Le Figaro described the game as being “as French as the baguette, the beret and a camembert and known the world over…” Le Figaro described the game as being “as French as the baguette, the beret and a camembert and known the world over.”
Then again, if the campaign to become an Olympic sport fails…there is still the pastis. Then again, if the campaign to become an Olympic sport fails …there is still the pastis.