Welcome to Bocce Bowls. The official site of the BFA.: History

History
Australian Story of the sport's development and how the sport has evolved internationally, through A Bit of History.

AUSTRALIAN STORY

Overview
Bocce, the European version of bowls, was introduced to Australia by immigrants from Europe, especially Italians, in the early 1900?s.
For many years it was played as a social recreation in backyards, streets and suburban parks. In the 1960?s following the postwar inflow of immigrants, it became an organised sport ? and part of ethnic Australia?s social culture. When Italian immigrants established large social clubs, bocce courts were incorporated in them. It is estimated there are now about 13,000 competitive players in Australia.

How it Developed
The Victorian Federation was established in 1967 and progressed so well that the founders, Cav. Ray Cher and Cav. Virginio Turco were encouraged to establish an Australian federation in 1971. The Western Australian Federation was formed in 1969.
In 1974 Australia joined the World body, FIB, Federation Internationale de Boule. The Australian body was also recognised by the Federal Government, through the then Department of Tourism and Recreation in 1974.

Tournaments
A national bocce championship was staged in Australia for the first time in 1970 and is still the countries premier bocce event. Junior Championships were initiated in 1982 and the Women joined in, in 1995.
Australia began to compete in international events, including the World Championships which are held every two years in 1974. In 1979 and 1985, the World Doubles Championship was staged in Melbourne and the Junior World Championship in 1988. Australia has competed in every World Doubles and Fours Championship since 1974, their best being a third in the Doubles in 1988. They were also runners-up in both the newer Precision and Progressive Throws in 1991.

Development
The Bocce Federation of Australia has met the needs of the technical aspects by accrediting Coaches and Referees, initially using international expertise. Development visits outside Australia have included China in 1983 and 1995 and Singapore in 1998. The employment of a part-time Development Officer and later a Coaching Director assisted the growth and implementation of the Federation?s master plan. The development of new bocce games and entering the wider community, facilitated by the National Development Director has enhanced the opportunities for the sport in the future.

INTERNATIONAL

A Bit of History
Bocce or Sport Boule is one of the family of bowl sports. Other derivations from the early period are Raffa, Jeu Provencale, and Petanque. Here is a brief overview of how the sports evolved.

In the Beginning
In 9000 BC stone bowls existed. They were found in the city of Catal Hoyuk in Turkey. However, an adolescent and bowls were found in Egypt, dating from 5000BC which leads us to believe that the bowls were used for a game.
If we jump ahead a few thousand years, we find the Greeks, who considered the game of bowls as an excellent exercise.
These exercises were encouraged by Hippocrate as ?good for developing the body, judgment, and dexterity. Later, with the Romans, the game was transformed. The player had to get as near as possible to a chosen fixed point, and later, became a small spherical object called a jack ? the game of bowls, as we know it, was born.

It's Development
The game was introduced into Gaul by the Roman legions, in the Provence when Massilis (Marseilles) was founded in 600BC and subsequently in Lugdunum (Lyon) and in the ? Gaule Cisalpins? or Northern Italy. In the middle ages it became so popular that it was played in public squares and in the streets.
The way of playing the game developed with customs and traditions, there was the ?Longue? (or ?Lyonnaise?), which later became ?Sport Boules?, the jeu Provencale?, ?la Raffa?, and at the beginning of the 20th century, the ?Petanque?.
The expansion of these physical activities throughout the world led to the formation of the F.I.B. Federation International de Boules (1964) [SPORT BOULES], the F.I.P.J.P. Federation Internationale de Petanque et de Jeu Provencal (1958) [PETANQUE], and the C.B.I. Confederatione Boccistica Internationale (1982) [RAFFA].

The Umbrella Confederation
The ?Confederation Mondiale Sport Boules? (CMSB) umbrella group for the three federations was created on 21st December 1985 in Monaco. The C.M.S.B. was recognised by the C.I.O. (Comite International Olympique) on the 15th October 1986 in Lausanne during its 91st session.
The C.M.S.B. is a member of the A.G.F.I.S. (Association Generale des Federations Internationales de Sports), of the I.W.G.A. (International World Games association), and the A.R.I.S.F. (association of recognised International Sports Federations). Through its three members, the C.M.S.B. has organised more than 200 world championships (Seniors, Women and Juniors).
The F.I.B. (Lyonnaise) was present at the Mediterranean Games in Tunis (1967), Split (1979), and Casablanca (1983). In 1993 in Ales, France, a competition united the three disciplines was held during the Mediterranean Games.

... While Waiting
In June 1997, in Bari, Italy, for the first time in their history, they were officially represented in the Mediterranean Games, and in Lahti (Finland) from the 9th to the 11th August 1997, the Petanque and Lyonnaise disciplines took part in the World Games. The C.M.S.B. is also present in the many Continental Games, (Indian Ocean, Pacific and Asian Games) ? while waiting to take part in the Olympic Games.