The Special Olympics Bocce Program has events for singles, doubles and team competition and is offered in over 30 programs worldwide. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are placed in divisions according to ability, age and gender. Bocce is one of the Special Olympics' newer sports, having been introduced at the World Games level for the first time in 1991.
Bocce is game of skill and strategy.
There may be anywhere from two to four to eight players on a team. Each player is given two balls. The players are given points for the balls thrown closest to the pallino ball. Players may also throw on the fly, striking the ball to move the point ball. Balls, including the pallino, may also be displaced by the balls of other players.