What's up in Europe? | Page 70

Sports CROATIA The European Championship for Women in Bocce by Dora spread it all around the Europe, Australia and America. In my region this sport is very popular, and it is also popular in Montenegro and in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. We call it ‘balote’. Rules: European Championship in Bocce for Women was held last month in Komiža, on the Island of Vis. For those who may not know what bocce is I can help. Bocce is ball sport which belongs to the boules sport family. Ancient Romans used to play it in the Roman Empire, so it’s quite old. It had evolved in its current form in Italy. Then, Italian migrants Bocce is traditionally played on natural soil and asphalt courts 27.5 meters (90 ft.) in length and 2.5 to 4 meters (8.2 to 13 ft.) wide. Balls for playing can be plastic or metal. Game can be conducted between two people or two teams of two, three or four players. Match starts by randomly chosen side being given the opportunity to throw a smaller ball, the jack (pallino), from one end of the court into a 5-metre zone (16 ft.) in length, ending 2.5 meters (8.2 ft.) from the far end of the court. If the first team misses twice, the other team is awarded with the opportunity to place the jack anywhere they want within the prescribed zone.