Over 200 players competed in the 6th annual NYC Bocce Championship. Two teams from Queens' Juniper Park entered the finals. The Bocce championship is clearly an event appreciated by the Park's commissioner Henry Stern and his staff as it services a constituency not often reached by other park sports activities. Most players are well into their middle aged years, with a healthy dose of senior's in the mix. Juniper II is actually one of the younger teams with players ranging from 40 to 61 years old.
Bocce is an ancient game, with an interesting history.
The game made its way to Greece about 800 B.C. and later, became a popular sport throughout the Roman Empire. During the middle ages, Bocce was popular throughout Europe. Bocce was introduced to America by the British and Bowling Green was one of the first Bocce courts in New York. Bocce remains popular within the city, particularly in Italian other Southeastern European communities.