ITALIA
Outline Italian's petanque history
In Italy the game of the petanque developed itself due to the passion by a restricted number of
good players, whom already in the 60s they defended even under unofficial shape, with big tenacity
Italian colours in well-known international competitions.
1972: The Italian Federation of Pétanque is officially born; the first president being
Aldo Valzania of Bordighera .
1975: Italy, with the triplette Serando Giovanni - Pau Salvatore - Carioli Mario won its first
world title in Quebec, Canada.
1978: Italy, with the triplette Serando Giovanni - Napolitano Antonio - Ferro Franco confirms
their world title in Mons (Belgium).
1979: Italy triumphantly defends its title in Southampton (England), with the triplette Serando
- Napolitano – Fero.
1988: The Italian Federation of Pétanque organises in Genoa, with big success the 24 °
world championship triplette. For the first and unique time the entrance to the demonstration
is free.
1992: Italy organises the 28 ° world championship at Aoste.
1995: The petanque adheres to the Italian Federation of Boules, which becomes so the unique representative
of the Italian movement of boules. The unification of three specialities is realized. It was the
wish of the federal president Romolo Rizzoli, realised with the co-operation of Antonio Napolitano,
current president of the Italian petanque and member of the executive committee of the FIPJP.
1997: Italy won the silver medal in the Mediterranean Sea’s game in Bari (Italy) with the
doublette Bruno - Laigueglia and in Lathi ( Finland's ) World Games with the triplette Bruno -
Laigueglia - Tiboni.
2000: Italy won the silver medal in the Youth World Championship in Liège (Belgium) with
the triplette : Salto - Ghigliazza - Ellena.
2001: Italy won the title in the World Games in Akita (Japan) with the triplette : Bruno - Dutto
- Lerda and the silver medal in the Mediterranean Sea’s game in Tunis (Tunisia) with the
doublette : Bruno - Laigueglia.
2002: Italy won the silver medal in the European Youth Championship in La Louvrière ( Belgium).
14.09.2002 Simon Salto set the Youth World Record of shooting with 41 points.
