Valledupar, October 16, 2025. Silence, fixed gaze, bated breath. Facing the white line, an athlete bows his head and, with a slight impulse, lets the blue ball roll down his chute. In boccia, precision is an art form and strategy is an extension of the body. This sport, born as a recreational alternative for people with cerebral palsy, has become a Paralympic discipline that exalts tactics, control and concentration. In Valledupar 2026, boccia promises duels of wit rather than strength.
Boccia is a precision sport in which athletes throw leather balls to get them as close as possible to a cue ball called a jack. It is played individually, in pairs or in teams, and the throws can be made by hand, foot or by assisted ramps. Concentration, aim and strategy are the keys to dominating the game.
The game is played as an individual, in pairs or in teams.
Game details
People with cerebral palsy or other severe motor disabilities that affect control and coordination of movement participate in boccia. To ensure competitive fairness, athletes are grouped into four functional classes that reflect their level of mobility and physical ability: in BC1 compete athletes with cerebral palsy who throw with their hand or foot and often require assistance to stabilize the chair or deliver balls; in BC2, players with greater trunk and arm control perform their throws without assistance, although they maintain significant motor limitations; BC3 groups athletes with very reduced mobility in arms and legs, who use ramps to throw and have an assistant who follows their instructions without looking at the court; and finally, BC4 gathers athletes with severe physical disabilities not derived from cerebral palsy, such as dystrophies or high spinal cord injuries, who can throw with the hand or foot.
A boccia match is divided into 4 to 6 partials (ends). In each, players shoot six balls (red or blue) trying to get them closer to the jack than their opponent’s. For each ball closer, one point is awarded. Whoever scores the most at the end of the match wins. Thirteen leather balls are used (6 red, 6 blue and one white). The court measures 12.5 meters long by 6 meters wide, with regulatory divisions for throws. The floor must be completely flat, with a smooth surface to guarantee the precision of the shots.
What’s next: Valledupar 2026
Boccia will be disputed from July 10 to 15 at the Gymnastics Coliseum of the Universidad Popular del Cesar, with the participation of 68 Para athletes from 11 countries and the awarding of 11 gold medals in individual female and male events, corresponding to classes BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4, as well as in pairs BC3, BC4 and teams.
They are expected to be present at Valledupar 2026.
At the Boccia 2022 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, the South American representation shined: Colombia won gold in the BC4 pairs category after beating Slovakia 4-3, in addition to a silver in individual BC4 with Euclides Grisales. Brazil conquered 7 medals in total, including titles in the individual BC1 and BC2 classes; Argentina celebrated gold in individual men’s BC2 and Chile advanced to the quarterfinals in BC3, confirming the competitive growth of the region.
For its part in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Colombia, thanks to brothers Leydi and Edilson Chica, won the gold medal in pairs BC4, in addition to the silver medal in men’s individual BC4 and a bronze medal in women’s individual BC4. These results anticipate a dispute of the highest level in Valledupar 2026.
Boccia is one of the few Paralympic sports created exclusively for athletes with disabilities. Each game is a battle of concentration and pinpoint calculation: a silent chess played with leather balls.
Boccia is one of the few Paralympic sports created exclusively for athletes with disabilities.
