A game of skill, concentration and finesse, BocciaBoccia is a bowling game. Leather balls are thrown as close as possible to a white target ball (“the jack”) on a long, narrow field of play. is a Paralympic sport for athletes with a high level of disabilityA Disability is generally a condition either caused by accident, trauma, genetics or disease, which may restrict a person's mental processes, senses or mobility.. Athletes compete in wheelchairs and throw, kick or use a ramp to propel leather balls as close as possible to a white ball which serves as the target.

While Australia will not contest Boccia at LondonHome of the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2012, players around the country already have their sights set on competing in Rio 2016. Find out more why so many athletes have dedicated their lives to achieving success in this thrilling sport by watching this 1:12 minute video.

Boccia (pronounced bot-cha)

• Boccia is open to athletes with cerebral palsyA disorder of movement and posture due to damage to an area of the brain that controls and coordinates muscle tone, reflexes, posture and movement. "Cerebral" mean brain-centred; "palsy" is a lack of muscle control. who compete in a wheelchair.
• It is unique to the Paralympic Games and has Italian origins.
• Men and women compete together in team and individual events.
• Boccia is a bowling game.  Leather balls are thrown as close as possible to a white target ball (“the jack”) on a long, narrow field of play.
• Boccia became a Paralympic Games sport in Barcelona in 1992.

ClassificationAthletes are classified by classifiers into classes by their ability to function. The aim is to ensure that athletes of similar ability compete against one another.

• BC1: Athletes may compete with a helper or aide. The athlete has to tell the helper what to do.
• BC2: Athletes who don’t have a lot of strength, but can move their wheelchair forwards.  BC2 are not allowed to have a helper.
• BC3: For players with who can’t move very well at all. Players can use a special ramp to roll the ball and use a helper who is not allowed to watch the ball in play.
• BC4: For players with other severe physical disabilities - not necessarily cerebral palsy. Players are not allowed to have a helper.