Some of the 31 sports at the World Games are a little unusual, to say the least. Here is part one of our guide to some of the most obscure.BOULES
Usually associated with beret wearing French pensioners, Boules in the World Games is a tad more competitive.
PHOTO: HUANG HSU-LEI, TAIPEI TIMES
There are three main variations; Boules Lyonnaise, Petanque and Raffa.
The rules for all three are very similar, the only difference being in the size and surface of the playing field, the material and size of the boule and the throwing action.
In Petanque the players throw the boules underhand while standing within a 50cm-diameter circle, whereas in Boules Lyonnaise and Raffa players are allowed to take steps before delivery.
Petanque and Lyonnaise use metal boules whereas Raffa uses synthetic boules.
The basic rules are:
One player tosses the jack (or target ball) to a suitable distance.
The players or teams then take it in turns to throw their boules, trying either to get it as close to the jack as possible or to knock the opposition’s boule away from the jack. Once all the boules are thrown, the scores are tallied.
Only the team with boules closest to the jack score. If a team has three boules closer to the jack than the nearest opposition boule then they score three points, two boules closer equals two points, and so on.
Other variations include Boules Lyonnaise shuttle throw, where competitors have five minutes to run from one end of the field to the other, each time picking up a bowl and throwing at a target ball, and Precision Throw, where accuracy is key.
Events: Boule Lyonnaise individual shuttle throw (Male, Female); Boule Lyonnaise precision throw (M/F); Petanque doubles (M/F); Raffa doubles (M/F)
Venue: 228 Memorial Park (228 和平公園) Date: Mon 20–Wed 22.
FIN SWIMMING
In fin swimming competitors use a huge monofin to effectively turn themselves into human dolphins. This enables fin swimmers to travel much faster, making multiple Olympic champion Michael Phelps look cumbersome. The world record for 50m freestyle stands at just under 21 seconds, whereas the fin swimming record is 14.18 seconds.
There are two disciplines on show in Kaohsiung: Surface, where swimmers use a snorkel and are allowed to breath; and apnea, where they have to stay under water (competitors suspected of breathing are disqualified.)
Events: 100m surface (M/F) 200m surface (M/F) 400m surface (M/F), 4 x 100m relay surface (M/W), 50m apnea (M/W)
Venue: Kaohsiung Swimming Pool (國際游泳池) Date: Thur 23–Fri 24.
FISTBALL
Although many people have never heard of it, Fistball has been played in Italy for hundreds of years. The first mention of the sport dates from the Roman period.
The rules are similar to volleyball, except the ball is allowed to bounce between each contact. It is usually played outside on a 20m by 50m field with a 2m high net in the center. There are five players on a team and the aim of the game is to knock the ball into the other team’s half in such a way that it can’t be returned. Once the ball crosses the net, a team has three hits to return it. Contact with the ball can only be made using the fist.
The first team to score twenty points wins the set and matches are best of three sets.
Events: Men’s Fistball
Venue: Chung Cheng Stadium (中正運動場) Date: Fri 17–Mon 20.
FLYING DISC (FRISBEE)
The most popular of all Frisbee games and the one played at the World Games is “Ultimate.”
Ultimate is a non-contact sport where two mixed teams of seven compete on a field measuring 64m by 37m that has two end zones 18m deep. Points are scored when a team completes a pass in the opposition’s end zone. Players are not allowed to run with the Frisbee and the Frisbee holder has 10 seconds to make a pass. Possession is forfeited when the Frisbee goes out of play, is dropped, blocked or intercepted.
The team with the most points at the end of two halves (usually 25 minutes) is the winner. The game is self-refereed in that players are responsible for calling fouls and infractions.
Events: Six-team Ultimate (Mixed)
Venue: Main Stadium (世運主場館) Date: Sun 19–Tue 21.
Four more sports will be profiled tomorrow.
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