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| Pétanque
is .. |
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Played regularly by more
than 20 million people worldwide,
About 600 000 of these players are registered with more than 50 national
federations representing all continents.
An art of Living
A game easily adapted to any conditions and climates, including the
snow of Canada,
A game accessible to all irrespective of age or physical condition,
A sport linking all social sectors and bringing together generations
A serious sport demanding a great deal of training and deserving of
a place in the Olympic Games. |
| Origin
of the games of bowls … |
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Although a rather recent invention, pétanque, as all other
modern games of bowls, finds it's origins in ancient history. Bowls
were found in Egyptian sarcophaguses dating back 5 200 years, the
Greeks used the throwing of bowls as a demonstration of strength and
when the Romans conquerd Gaul, their luggage contained bowls.
In the wake of the invasion, the game got forgotten for about 700
years.
It was revived during the crusades and it's qualities of skill and
control won it a place of high regard during the Renaissance. The
benifits attributed to the game during this period, led it to be siezed
from the common people - who need to wait till the night of August
the 4th, 1789 and the Abolition of Privileges before they can lead
the game further into the future.
In 1850 "Boule Lyonnaise" becomes a recognised sport with
the forming of the first official society: "Clos de Jouve".
In the south "Jeu Provencal" gains more popularity and in
time will give birth to the modern game of Pétanque.
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| The
birth of the pétanque... |
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Pétanque gets it's name from the provencal expression - "pés
tanqués" - meaning "joined feet". Is was developed
by a group of players of Jeu Provencal that rewrote the rules to enable
Jules "the Black", a renowned player from their group, to
continue playing after he had become paralised. Different sources claim
that this took place in 1907, 1908 or 1910 in La Ciotat.
The
pétanque, the game of bowls the most spread in the world, became
an universal discipline. |
| The
pétanque spreads through France... |
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Irrespective of the exact date, the fact remains that the first tournament
organised in La Ciotat, a small town between Marseille and Toulon, was
a huge success.
Pétanque rapidly became part of the way of life in the south
and has been immortalised by many of the artists and writers of the
time. At the end of the 30's, the generalisation of the holidays, combined
with the games low cost and accesibility, give the game it't first big
boost and it spreads like wildfire across France. |
| …And,
worldwide... |
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The thousands of yearly international visitors to the south of France
become the international ambassadors of Pétanque and the game
rapidly spreads as far afield as Australia and Alaska.
Juzo Itami, a Japanese film-maker and regular visitor to the Cannes
film festival, is credited with introducing the game to the land of
the rising Sun - which now boasts three federations and several thousand
registred players.
Thailand's Queen-Mother discovered the game on a visit to Switzerland
and mainly through it's introduction into the Army it has become practicaly
a national sport. |
| The
pétanque becomes a recognised sport... |
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· In 1927 Pétanque is codified as a sport.
In 1945 the French Union of Pétanque and Jue Prevencal (FFPJP)
is born.
In 1953, the Swiss Federation of Pétanque (FSP) is created in
Thônex, Geneva.
In 1958 the International Federation of Pétanque and Jue Provencal
is established at Marseille.
In 1983 Pétanque is admitted to the world games and two years
later, in 1885 the World Confederation of Sports Boules (CMSB) is formed.
The following year the CMSB becomes a member of the CIO.
In 1999 the European Confederation of Pétanque is born. |