Petanque or Boules
Boules, a type of lawn bowls, is played across the country, using metal balls and a jack [cochonnet]. It can be played anywhere, on any flat ground and has become the country's leading outdoor recreation, with an estimated 17 million participants. In cities, towns and villages, boules playing areas [terrains de boules] are set aside in parks, and there now are some covered halls for the game [boulodromes converts]. It also has become a competitive sport, with hundreds of clubs organised in 22 leagues that together have nearly half a million players.
The roots of the game are believed to be in a pastime of the nobility in ancient Greece and Rome. It came to France well before the Revolution and long was a royal recreation. The first Boules association was founded in 1850 in Lyon, and today the Federation francaise de petanque et jeu provencal (FFPJP) is by membership the fourth largest sports association in the country. The sport has become international, and there are Petanque associations in more than 20 countries as well as an international federation, Confederation Mondiale des Sports de Boules with its head office in Monaco. Each year, there are national and international meets, and world championships are held every other year, with divisions for men, women and juniors. For further information, contact FFPJP, 13 rue Trigance, 13002 Marseille, Tel: 04 91140580, www.petanque.fr or visit the Internet portal for the game at www.petanque.com.
