PATTERING FOOTSTEPS, CHILDREN'S VOICES
CLAIRE: I鈥檓 Claire Taggart, two-time Paralympian and gold-medal winning World Champion.
And this is boccia!
UPLIFTING MUSIC
MARTIN: Boccia is the fastest-growing disability sport in the world and it鈥檚 now played in more than fifty countries, and it's a sport we're pretty good at.
CROWD CHEERING
MARTIN: David Smith, European, World and Paralympic Champion, is ParalympicGB鈥檚 most successful player of all time and Claire
Taggart has represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Boccia is a tactical defend and attack game with two sides playing against each other.
The aim of the game is to score the most points by getting your coloured balls closer to the white 鈥榡ack鈥 ball than your opponent.
CLAIRE: Playing boccia is like playing a board game or chess, where you have to plan ahead your next move, and try and outsmart your opponent.
I鈥檝e always been more interested in puzzles and games rather than fast-paced cardio sport, so in a way, boccia is perfect for me!
MARTIN: When you watch or play boccia, you鈥檒l notice all the players are sitting.
This is because the game is played by people with many different types of impairments, and having everyone seated makes the competition fair.
But anyone can play boccia, whether they are disabled or not.
And it's also one of the few sports where boys and girls play against each other.
CLAIRE: I have a condition called dystonia.
This means that sometimes my muscles can move on their own; I can鈥檛 control them and it can be painful.
I got really into playing wheelchair rugby and basketball, but eventually I couldn鈥檛 manage these and that鈥檚 when I was introduced to boccia.
Because everyone playing the game is seated, it doesn鈥檛 matter that I'm a wheelchair user.
So much of the sport is about using your brain. There are always new ways of looking at shots or decisions, and thinking outside the box.
As athletes, we鈥檙e always trying to improve and to find that next competitive edge.
MARTIN: The balls players use are made from leather and filled with plastic granules, so they don't bounce but will still roll.
Players throw, kick or roll their balls onto the court.
Those who can鈥檛, use a ramp to propel the balls and devices, like hand or head pointers.
Boccia is one of the most inclusive sports you can play.
Every player is allowed to have a sports assistant to help them with adjustments to their playing chair or ramp, and to pass them their balls when needed.
CLAIRE: It may seem like a simple game to anyone watching, but the gameplan and tactics in boccia that you need to play against
the best teams in the world can mean it's a very intense sport, both for those watching and for those playing.
When I'm playing boccia, I have to stay focused all the time.
It's a real test of my brain power and physical accuracy, and sometimes that can be really stressful.
What really helps me on court, is that I'm able to have my dad there as my sports assistant.
Just looking up and seeing my dad calm and smiling, then I know that I can be calm too.
STEVIE: Being Claire's sports assistant is fantastic.
We get to travel the world, meet new people and best of all, I get to see Claire doing a sport that she loves.
CLAIRE: For me, boccia has been truly life changing and my goal has always been to just enjoy the moment and go from there.
My greatest dream would be to win a Paralympic medal, to bring it back to Northern Ireland, not just for me, but for my parents and for my community, as they have given me so much support and backing.
I鈥檝e shown you the sport that I love to play - now it鈥檚 your turn.
So, what are you waiting for?!
CAMERA CLICKS
PATTERING FOOTSTEPS,
CHILDREN'S VOICES
Watch this film with British Sign Language
Watch this film with audio description
Watch this film with British Sign Language and audio description.
In this film Martin Dougan and boccia champion, Claire Taggart, tell us all about boccia.
Introduced in 1984, boccia (pronounced 鈥榖ot-cha鈥) is the fastest growing disability sport in the world. It is a game of two sides played indoors. Similar to bowls, the aim of the game is to get your ball closest to the jack as possible. It requires tactics and physical accuracy.
It is one of the most inclusive disability sports as everyone is seated and people can have a sport assistant to help them if needed. It was initially devised for people with cerebral palsy and has evolved to include all disabled people. Non-disabled people can also play as long as they remain seated during play and the game is ideal for children and for older people with limited mobility.
The ball can be thrown, kicked, or rolled down a ramp onto the court, which is the same size as a badminton court. You can take part as an individual, in a pair, or as a team of three.
We meet Northern Ireland boccia champion, Claire Taggart, and Great Britain boccia champion, David Smith, who have excelled in the sport.
You can watch the 2024 Paralympic Games between 28th August and 8th September on Channel 4.
