There are seven medal events in the sport of Boccia.

Did you know?

• ‘Boccia’ comes from the Latin word ‘bottia’, meaning ‘ball’. The sport is also known as ‘bocce’.
• Boccia is played in more than 50 countries.
• A Boccia court measures 12.5m x 6m.

Key facts

Venue: ExCeL
Dates: Sunday 2 September – Saturday 8 September
Gold medals up for grabs: 7
Athletes: 104 (80 men and 24 women)

Believed to have Ancient Greek origins, Boccia is played on a long, narrow court by individuals, pairs and teams.

How to play

The goal is to throw or bowl a ball so that it lands as close as possible to the target ball, known as the ‘jack’. At the close of each ‘end’, the athlete whose ball is closest to the jack scores a point for each of their balls that finishes closer to the jack than their opponent’s best ball.

Individual and pairs matches consist of four ends, with six balls per individual or pair on each end. Team events consist of six ends, also with six balls per team per end. For more information on the history of the sport, visit the IPC website.

Boccia at the Games

Boccia was introduced to the Paralympic Games at New York 1984. Today, there are seven medal events in the programme, all of which are open to athletes of either gender.

Played by wheelchair athletes with severe cerebral palsy and related neurological disorders, the sport is a test of muscle control and accuracy, demanding extreme skill and concentration at the highest level.

Get involved

Boccia is truly a sport for all. A game of skill, it can be played together by men and women of all ages – with or without a disability. CP Sport is the national governing body of Boccia in the United Kingdom, while the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association governs the sport at international level.

Learn more about how to get involved on the Parasport website

You can also visit the websites of Paralympic Sport TV and the IPC

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