Boccia

Boccia ( BOTCH-ə) is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. The name "boccia" is derived from the Latin word for "boss" – bottia. The sport is contested at local, national and international levels by athletes with severe physical disabilities. It was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy but now includes athletes with other severe disabilities affecting motor skills. In 1984, it became a Paralympic sport and as of 2020, 75 boccia national organizations have joined one or more of the international organizations. Boccia has been governed by the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) since 2013 and is one of two Paralympic sports (along with goalball) that have no counterpart in the Olympic program, although it is a Paralympic variant of bocce (boules).