When looking down the list of Paralympic sports, Boccia
caught my eye.
I must admit, I had never heard of Boccia before the start of this Olympic Blog.
The sport itself was introduced to the Paralympics in 1984, so compared to some of the other 3000+ year old sports, its fairly new.
I must admit, I had never heard of Boccia before the start of this Olympic Blog.
The sport itself was introduced to the Paralympics in 1984, so compared to some of the other 3000+ year old sports, its fairly new.
On first glance, I can only really compare it to be
similar to Bowls. The aim of the
sport is to propel balls so they finish as close as possible to a special white
target ball called a ‘jack’. They can do this by rolling the ball
directly at the jack or by trying to knock the other player’s balls out
the way.
There are six leather balls per player. Balls are
coloured either red or blue and the jack is white. Boccia is a game of immense
skill, judgement and concentration, and can be won or lost on the smallest of
measurements. The winning athletes will have to maintain their levels of peak
performance over a number of days and sessions.
Boccia is a mixed gender sport, and is played by wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and related locomotor conditions. Players compete as Individuals , in pairs or as a team.
Boccia is a mixed gender sport, and is played by wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and related locomotor conditions. Players compete as Individuals , in pairs or as a team.
At the last Paralympics in
Beijing 2008, Team GB made up of Nigel Murray, Dan Bentley, David Smith and Zoe
Robinson won Gold in the BC1/BC2 Classification.
Nigel Murray then went on to win silver in the Individual BC2 event.
Nigel Murray then went on to win silver in the Individual BC2 event.
 |
| photo from london2012.com/paralympics |
Players are required to be
in a seated position within a throwing box at one end of the playing court. The
classification system ensures an even playing field for athletes to compete
against others with similar disabilities.
There are 4 Classifications for Boccia:
BC1 – athletes may have an
assistant to perform actions such as handing them the Boccia balls.
BC2
– athletes require no assistance on court.
BC3
– athletes deliver each ball by using a ramp and have a sports assistant who
they instruct to position the ramp for each delivery.
BC4
– athletes often use an underhand pendulum swing to release the ball.
For more info please visit : http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/boccia/about/
As there are many different degrees of cerebral palsy and
other locomotor conditions, Assistive technology available varies depending on
each individual needs.
Things such as Click Switches, Adapted keyboards and Eye tracking tech such as Tobii can be life changing.
If you want to know more information about how and what assistive technology can help people with cerebral palsy drop us a line:
AbilityNet Advice and Information Services: 0800 269 545
or drop us an email: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Things such as Click Switches, Adapted keyboards and Eye tracking tech such as Tobii can be life changing.
If you want to know more information about how and what assistive technology can help people with cerebral palsy drop us a line:
AbilityNet Advice and Information Services: 0800 269 545
or drop us an email: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Video from London2012 Paralympics explaining the sport:
Video of Team GB’s wining in Beijing 2008
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