THE Gwynedd Boccia league held its first matches at the Glaslyn Leisure Centre with 16 teams taking part.

Boccia is a precision ball sport related to bowls and petanque.

It is a Paralympic sport and was devised initially for people with cerebral palsy.

The game is played with players in a seated position and is therefore appropriate for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Emma Quaeck, Gwynedd Council DementiaGo’s project manager and one of the organisers of the league, said: “Boccia is becoming a popular activity played in by many local groups and organisations.

“The beauty of the game is that everyone can have a go no matter what their health condition may be, and anyone can win!

“It can get very competitive and players become more skilful but there is also always a wonderful social aspect to the game.”

Teams who took part in the League included representatives from the MS Society, The South Snowdon Parkinsons Group, Stroke Support group, Antur Waunfawr, CIL and Gwynedd Councils’ National Exercise Referral Scheme and DementiaGo participants.

The league will be played on a monthly basis and the organisers hope that it will get more people involved with playing Boccia on a regular basis for competition and friendship.

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