Special Olympics athletes in Rotorua now have more opportunities than ever to play the ancient Italian sport of bocce.
Special Olympics organisations in Rotorua and Southland are expanding their bocce programmes after successfully sourcing portable "Packabocce" courts which will enable them to bring the game to schools and other venues.
Special Olympics Rotorua committee member Christine Brewer said bocce was an internationally sport which was growing in popularity in New Zealand. It is similar to pétanque but is played within a walled court.
"Bocce has a strong international scene so we are really keen to give our athletes the opportunity to give it a go. We were fortunate to get the bulk of the funding for the portable courts from the Sulphur City Lions, so we were very pleased about that," Brewer said.
Rotorua athletes had their first taste of the courts on Wednesday, February 13 at Western Heights High School, where 20 Special Olympics athletes between the ages of 14 and 60 experienced the sport for the first time. Brewer teaches in the school's Te Maru unit, which is for students with special needs, and sees potential for bocce to be used in an educational setting as well.
