History of the Game

Petanque

The modern day Petanque was born in 1910 at Clotat in France when a handicapped man recovering from an accident and while watching a game of boules, picked one up and threw from a standing position with great accuracy. The Sport then spread to all the French colonies in Africa, South Pacific and Western Europe. During the last decade, it is also being played in some of the East European countries and Asia, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, Malaysia, China and Singapore. With the encouragement and assistance from the F.I.P.J.P., the 39th World Championships for triplettes will be organised in 2003. World Championships for ladies and juniors are organised every two years.

In 1985, the Singapore Sports Council introduced the sport of Petanque to Senior Citizens as a leisure form of exercise. The Federation was formed in 1989 to popularise this sport to people from all walks of life. Today, many young people and students from primary, secondary and the Polytechnics are actively playing the game. Many teachers are currently involved in competitions and promoting the sport.

With the co-operation of the People's Association and financed by the Singapore Sports Council, the Federation introduced the "Learn to Play" Scheme for the senior citizens. Annually some 1,200 people participated in our sessions. The scheme will be carried out for more serious Petanque players. It is very encouraging that courts are being built in various community and R.C. centres. Today there are more than 60 courts in Singapore.

Many of our younger members are participating in the World Championships and Internationals held overseas. The Federation organises yearly an International championship in which more than ten countries are involved. Monthly competitions are organised for members and affiliates.

Boule

Bocce (pronounced bot-chee) as the Italians call it, or boules the French equivalent, is one of the worlds oldest games. It resembles lawn bowls, although, it may have its origins in a game played at the time of the Pharaohs. 

The Sport of Boule was recorded to be in existence since 9000 years B.C. when a set of stone balls and jack was found in Turkey. A set of balls was also found in an Egyptian tomb 7000 years B.C. The sport was played by the Romans and Greeks in ancient times. It was said that the Romans were the first people to bring Boule to Marseilles some 2600 years ago. In the Middle Ages, the sport was so popular that it was banned. In the 17th century, the French aristocrats began to make this sport as their own and King Louis XIV set the rules to play the game to 14 points. Soldiers in the Napoleon's army used cannon balls to play during the war. In 1588, Sir Francis Drake was said to have insisted on finishing his game of boules before he set out to defeat the Spanish.

Bocce is a major sport in both Italy and France.