Boccia. When athletes come together from around the world to compete in the.
Olympic and Paralympic Games, they are fulfilling their dreams and competing.
English for THE GAMES
Boccia When athletes come together from around the world to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, they are fulfilling their dreams and competing at the highest level. Billions of people across the globe join in; watching, listening to and reading about the greatest global celebration of sport. To celebrate the London 2012 Games, the British Council is making a wide range of classroom resources available for learners of English worldwide. Boccia is an Italian word that means ‘ball’, and the Paralympic sport has its origin in games played during the time of the Roman Empire. Men and women wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and related conditions compete together in team, pair and individual events. The aim is to propel balls so they end up as near as possible to a special white target ball called a ‘jack’. Have you ever played a game like boccia?
Jack
Ramp
Aide
Wheelchair
Throwing boxes
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Court
© British Council 2011 Brand and Design/B122
1. Vocabulary a. Write the correct words in the spaces provided.
a. Jack
b. Court
c. Ramp
d. Aide
e. Wheelchair
f.
2
Throwing boxes
3 4
5 1
6
2. The rules of Boccia What is it? Boccia is a sport which is similar to games such as bowls and pétanque. The sport has been specially adapted for athletes with a disability. The aim of all these games is for athletes to get a number of balls as near as possible to a target ball. Who can participate in boccia at the Paralympics? Boccia is open to athletes with cerebral palsy and other conditions that affect muscle control and movement. All athletes compete in a wheelchair. Classifications There are four classifications: BC1: athletes with cerebral palsy who can project the ball with minor assistance BC2: athletes with cerebral palsy who do not need assistance BC3: athletes with severe cerebral palsy who need to use a ramp BC4: athletes who have a condition other than cerebral palsy How is it played?
Athletes propel the ball towards a white target ball, known as the ‘jack’. The closest ball to the jack wins. Men and women compete together in team, pairs and individual events. Each match has a number of different stages called ‘ends’. Each player, pair or team gets six balls in each end. Individual and pairs matches have four ends. Team events have six ends. When each ‘end’ is finished, the athlete (or pair or team) whose ball is closest to the jack scores one point. The athlete also receives another point for every ball that is nearer to the jack than the opposition’s closest ball.
a. Match the words in the table with their definitions below.
a. aide /sports assistant
b. court
c. end
d. jack
e. ramp
f.
wheelchair
1. A chair on wheels which people who are unable to walk use for moving around. 2. A device used by athletes who are unable to hold and release the ball, to throw the ball toward the jack. 3. A passage of play that features six balls per athlete, pair or team. 4. A person who assists the athlete when requested by stabilising his/her chair or passing him/her the ball. 5. The area where the game is played. 6. The white target ball; competitors aim to land their balls as close to the this ball as possible.
3. Reading Practice makes perfect You might not have heard of Boccia but they have in Portugal. It is the only country to have won medals in Boccia at every Paralympic Games since the sport was introduced in 1984. Since then the Portuguese have won 8 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. In France and Italy it is common to see games similar to Boccia, such as boule and bocce, played in any open space in villages and towns. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries lawn bowls clubs are common. In Portugal, however, games of this type are traditionally not so popular, so why has Portugal had so much success in Boccia at the Paralympic Games? One theory is based on the old saying “success breeds success”. Boccia was only introduced into the country in 1983, and yet the following year Portugal won the mixed team event at the Paralympic Games in New York. Soon afterwards Boccia began to be introduced into physical education classes. Exhibition games were held in many places throughout the country. The game has continued to grow in popularity and nowadays it is one of the most popular Paralympic sports in Portugal.
a. Decide if the following statements are true or false, according to the text. 1. Just one country has won medals in Boccia at every Paralympics Games since its introduction into the programme.
a. True b. False
2. It is common to see Boccia played in France, Italy and the UK
a. True b. False
3. Games like Boccia have traditionally been played a lot in Portugal.
a. True b. False
4. One theory suggests that because the Portuguese won a medal in 1984 they went on to win more medals.
a. True b. False
5. More and more people in Portugal learnt about Boccia after 1984.
a. True b. False
b. Complete each of the questions below with a question word.
1. Question: ………… country has won medals in Boccia at every Paralympic Games since the sport was introduced in 1984? Answer: Portugal 2. Question: ………… was Boccia at introduced at the Paralympic Games? Answer: In 1984. 3. Question: ………… medals has Portugal won? Answer: 8 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. 4. Question: ………… can you see games similar to Boccia played in any open space in villages and towns? Answer: In France and Italy. 5. Question: ………… did Boccia become popular in Portugal? Answer: Because they won a medal one year after it was introduced into the country. 6. Question: ………… did many Portuguese people learn about Boccia? Answer: By seeing exhibition games or playing it in physical education classes.
4. Solution Exercise 1a 1. e; 2. f; 3. b; 4. a; 5. c; 6. d Exercise 2a 1. f; 2. e; 3. c; 4. a; 5. b; 6. D Exercise 3a 1. True; 2. False; 3. False; 4. True; 5. True Exercise 3b 1. Which; 2. When; 3. How many; 4. Where; 5. Why; 6. How
