Boccia (/ˈbɒtʃə/ BOTCH-ə) is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque.

[1] The sport is contested at local, national and international levels, by athletes with severe physical disabilities.

It was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy but now includes athletes with other severe disabilities affecting motor skills.

The balls can be moved with hands, feet, or, if the competitor's disability is severe, with an assistive device such as a ramp.

To be eligible to compete in boccia at national or international level, athletes must have a disability and be in a wheelchair, as a result of cerebral palsy, or another neurological condition that has similar effects, such as muscular dystrophy or traumatic brain injury.

Players are examined to determine the extent of their disability and then assigned to a sport class, designed to allow them to compete against other athletes with a similar level of physical function.

[10] 179 athletes from 24 countries and regions attended the 2007 Boccia World Cup (May 9–19, 2007 in Vancouver, BC, Canada)[citation needed] for their last opportunity for classification and achieve international ranking for the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.

The balance of power in recent years has shifted from European dominance to a more worldwide competitiveness with Brazil leading the BC4s and Korea the BC3s.

The dominant force of the Mixed Team has only recently changed hands from GB to Korea but the former power houses Spain and Portugal can never be ruled out.