It's one of two sports that only exist at the Paralympic Games: boccia is a bowls game that requires skill and precision. Find out all about this little-known sport ahead of the Paris 2024 events.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games always give us the opportunity to discover lesser-known, lesser-publicized sports. So this summer 2024, in Paris, we're looking forward to watching freestyle BMX, trampoline, diving... Or boccia.
Boccia is one of the two Paralympic sports with no Olympic equivalent. Boccia is a bowls game, often compared to pétanque. It has been a summer Paralympic sport since 1984. In 2024, the events are being held at theArena Paris Sud 1, one of the areas of Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles. The competitions take place from August 29 to September 5, 2024.
The complete program of events :
Thursday, August 29
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group A
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Pool A
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Pool B
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group B
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group B
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group B
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group C
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group C
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group D
- 14:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group D
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC1 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC1 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC1 Group C
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC1 Group D
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC4 Group C
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC4 Group C
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC4 Group D
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC4 Group D
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC1 Group A
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC1 Group B
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC1 Group C
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC1 Group D
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 19:20 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group B
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group B
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
Friday, August 30
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Pool B
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Pool B
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Pool C
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Group C
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Group D
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Pool D
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Group A
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC4 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group B
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group B
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC2 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group B
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group B
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group C
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group D
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group A
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 14:15 Individual Women - BC4 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group C
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group C
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group D
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group D
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group C
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group C
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 18:25 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 19:35 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group C
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group D
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group A
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group A
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group B
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2 Group B
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC1 Group B
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC1 Group C
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC1 Group D
- 21:55 Individual Women - BC1 Group A
Saturday, August 31st
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Pool C
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group C
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group D
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group A
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group C
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group D
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group A
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC4 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC4 Group C
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC4 Group D
- 12:50 Single Men - BC4 Group D
- 12:50 Single Men - BC4 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC4 Group A
- 12:50 Individual Men - BC4 Group B
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group C
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group D
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group A
- 14:00 Individual Women - BC3 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC2 Group B
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC2 Quarter-finals
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Pool C
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Pool C
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Pool D
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group D
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group A
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC3 Group B
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC1 Group B
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC4 Quarter-finals
- 18:25 Individual Men - BC2 Quarter Final
- 18:25 Individual Men - BC2 Quarter-final
- 18:25 Individual Men - BC2 Quarter-final
- 18:25 Individual Men - BC2 Quarter-final
- 18:25 Ind. Women - BC2 Quarter-final
- 18:25 Women's Ind. - BC2 Quarter-final
- 18:25 Women's Indiv. - BC2 Quarter-final
- 19:20 Individual Men - BC4 Pool B
- 19:20 Individual Men - BC4 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC1 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC1 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC1 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC1 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC4 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC4 Quarter-final
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC4 Quarter-final
- 20:30 Individual Women - BC3 Pool B
- 20:45 Individual Women - BC3 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Women - BC3 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Women - BC3 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Women - BC3 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC4 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC4 Quarter-final
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC4 Quarter-final
Sunday, September 1st
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC3: Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC3 : Quarter final
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC3 : Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC3 : Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC1 : Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC1 : Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC1 : Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Individual Men - BC1 : Quarter-finals
- 11:55 Individual Women - BC2 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Women - BC2 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Men - BC2 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Men - BC2 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Women - BC4 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Women - BC4 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Men - BC3 : Semi-final
- 11:55 Individual Men - BC3 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Men - BC1 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Men - BC1 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Women - BC1 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Women - BC1 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Women - BC3 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Women - BC3 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Men - BC3 : Semi-final
- 13:10 Individual Men - BC3 : Semi-final
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 : Bronze match 🥉
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC2 : Bronze match 🥉
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC2 : Match bronze 🥉
- 17:00 Individual Women - BC4 : Bronze match 🥉
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC1: Bronze match 🥉
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC1 : Bronze match 🥉
- 18:10 Individual Women - BC3 : Bronze match 🥉
- 18:10 Individual Men - BC3 : Bronze match 🥉
- 19:35 Individual Women - BC2 : Match gold 🥇
- 20:45 Individual Men - BC2: Gold match 🥇
Monday, September 2nd
- 10:30 Individual Women - BC1 : Gold match 🥇
- 11:40 Individual Men - BC1: Gold match 🥇
- 13:25 Individual Women - BC4 : Gold match 🥇
- 17:00 Individual Men - BC4 : Gold match 🥇
- 18:30 Individual Women - BC3 : Gold match 🥇
- 20:00 Individual Men - BC3: Match gold🥇
Tuesday, September 3rd
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool A
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool B
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4 : Pool C
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Group D
- 11:50 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool A
- 11:50 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool B
- 11:50 Mixed doubles - BC3: Group C
- 11:50 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool D
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Pool A
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Group B
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Group C
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Group D
- 13:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool C
- 13:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool B
- 13:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool D
- 13:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool A
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Pool A
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2 : Pool B
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Pool C
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Group D
- 17:00 Mixed doubles - BC3: Group A
- 17:00 Mixed doubles - BC3 : Pool B
- 17:00 Mixed doubles - BC3: Group C
- 17:00 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool D
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool C
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool D
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool A
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Pool B
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool B
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool C
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool D
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Pool A
- 20:10 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Pool B
- 20:10 Mixed team - BC1/BC2 : Group C
- 20:10 Mixed team - BC1/BC2 : Pool D
- 20:10 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Group A
Wednesday, September 4th
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Quarter-finals
- 10:30 Mixed doubles - BC4: Quarter-finals
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Quarter-final
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Quarter-final
- 11:50 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Quarter-final
- 13:40 Mixed doubles - BC3: Quarter-finals
- 13:40 Mixed doubles - BC3: Quarter-finals
- 13:40 Mixed doubles - BC3: Quarter-finals
- 17:00 Mixed doubles - BC4: Quarter-finals
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Semi-final
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Semi-final
- 18:20 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Quarter-final
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Semi-final
- 18:50 Mixed doubles - BC4: Semi-final
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Quarter-final
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Semi-final
- 20:10 Mixed doubles - BC3: Semi-final
Thursday, September 5
- 10:30 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Bronze match 🥉
- 12:20 Mixed doubles - BC4: Bronze match 🥉
- 13:40 Mixed doubles - BC3: Bronze match 🥉
- 17:00 Mixed team - BC1/BC2: Gold match 🥇
- 19:15 Mixed doubles - BC4: Gold match 🥇
- 21:00 Mixed doubles - BC3: Match or🥇
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: when and on which channel to watch boccia on TV?
To make sure you don't miss a single crumb of the boccia events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, follow the program on TV. Here are the channels and broadcast times. [Read more]
Boccia is a mixed discipline, practiced in 75 countries worldwide, for athletes with motor disabilities. It can be played individually, in doubles, or in teams of three. The French Handisport Federation website explains: " It's a duel sport, where the aim is to score more points than your opponent, over 4 rounds in a reduced time. " To achieve this, athletes use leather balls, either red or blue, depending on the team. The aim, as in petanque, is to throw these balls as close as possible to the control ball, called "Jack". Each player has six balls at his disposal to score as many points as possible. The game is played over several rounds.
Athletes are divided into four categories, depending on their disability. Athletes must use wheelchairs. Depending on the degree of disability, ramps and assistants can be provided. Assistants keep their backs to the court throughout the round, and must follow the player's instructions to the letter, without interfering in any other way.
Here is the official classification of athletes, as explained by the federation:
- BC1: Player with cerebral palsy and similar: "severe" disability in all four limbs. The player has a sports assistant.
- BC2: CP player and assimilated: "severe" handicap in all four limbs. No sports assistant.
- BC3: Player with any type of pathology: more "severe" handicap in all four limbs. The player has a ramp and a sports assistant.
- BC4: Player with any type of pathology, except CP and CP-like: "severe" handicap in all four limbs. No sports assistant, except for players who use their feet.
Since 1984, several nations have distinguished themselves in this discipline. At the top of the medal table is South Korea, with 22 medals, 10 of them gold. On the second step of the podium is Portugal (27 medals, 8 gold), followed by Thailand (12 medals, 6 gold).
For these 2024 Games, France is also hoping to climb these podiums. At the last French championships, several athletes distinguished themselves, including Aurélien Fabre (BC2 gold medallist) and Sonia Heckel (BC3 gold medallist). The athletes qualified for the Games alongsideAurélie Aubert (BC1), Fayçal Meguenni (BC2) and Jules Menard (BC3).
The Île-de-France region has 29 facilities for this sport, including five in Paris. To find the one nearest you, consult the interactive map of the Handisport Federation.
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: when and on which channel to watch boccia on TV?
