Singapore Disability Sports Council

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Singapore’s First Ever National Boccia Championship

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
31st May 2005

13 Wheelchair Athletes Vie For Singapore’s First Ever National Boccia Championship

Unlike any other Saturday, this Saturday 4th June is really special for 17-year old Kevin Lee. Together with 12 other wheelchair bound participants, Kevin will be competing in Singapore’s first ever National Boccia Championship which will be held this Saturday, 4th June between 10am and 6pm at the Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall.

Prior to the National Boccia Championship being organised by the Singapore Disability Sports Council, Kevin who suffers from muscular dystrophy will usually play the game of boccia with fellow wheelchair-bound friends from the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore. Organising the Championship in Singapore will provide Kevin and other participants who suffer from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or with severe physical disabilities with the opportunity to engage in a sport which will help them develop muscle control and accuracy.

Boccia is a sport whose origin dates back to ancient times. It first appeared on the Paralympic programme in 1984. Today, it is one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports and also a very meaningful and healthy sport for the elderly.

Boccia, which is similar to skittles, can be played by people of all ages in singles, doubles or team events. The aim of boccia is to throw a leather ball as near as possible to a small white ball called the ‘jack’. This game requires concentration, co-ordination and balance. Boccia is a competitive sport that is played by individuals, pairs or teams of three. Boccia is a sport for people with cerebral palsy and other locomotor disabilities, who are mostly wheelchair users, on both recreational and competition levels. The sport requires concentration, coordination, muscular control, accuracy, teamwork, cooperation and strategy.

Boccia matches are held in indoor halls, on specially marked courts. The players’ aim is to throw their coloured leather balls, which may be red or blue, as close as they can to a white target ball, which is called the “jack”. The match begins with the spinning of a coin by the referee. The winning side chooses whether to play with red or blue balls. The side with the red balls initiates the first end (round) by throwing the “jack” first and then the first red ball. The ball can be propelled by the hand, the foot, or by using an assistive device when players have a severe locomotor disability that affects all four extremities. The match continues with the opponents taking turns in trying to throw their balls as close as possible to the “jack”. At the end of each end the referee measures the distances of the balls that are closest to the “jack”. Points are awarded accordingly and are accumulated to declare the winner.