Boccia is played by wheelchair athletes with severe cerebral palsy and related neurological disorders and is an extreme test of muscle control and accuracy. The goal is to throw or bowl a ball so that it lands as close as possible to the ‘jack’ – a point is scored for each ball that finishes closer than an opponent’s best effort.
Classification
BC1 class athletes may have an assistant to perform actions such as handing them the boccia balls, BC2 class athletes require no assistance on court and BC3 class athletes deliver each ball by using a ramp and have a sports assistant who they instruct to position the ramp for each delivery.
Irish interest
Ireland will hope to build on their proud record of Paralympic success, with Gabriel Shelly (BC1), Johnny Cronin (BC3) (both gold medalists at Sydney 2000) and Bobbie Connolly (BC2) (fourth at the 2011 Boccia World Cup) all confident of their chances at London 2012’s Excel Arena.
