Impressive setting: Belgrano Station buzzed at the South American start | OneFootball

The bocce competition at the South American Games began this Monday before a large crowd at the court set up in the Convention Center at Belgrano Station. Argentine bocce players faced their counterparts from Paraguay and Peru.

As part of the 13th South American Games taking place in Santa Fe, Rosario, and Rafaela, bocce had its first day of competition on the court set up inside Belgrano Station. With the stands full, during the morning players from Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru competed, while Uruguayan representatives joined in the afternoon.

The national team won 12-9 in the first Group B match of the Mixed Punto Raffa Volo category against Paraguay. Romina Bolatti also won 13-3 in her debut in Women’s Individual Volo, while Argentina lost 13-8 to Peru in the Mixed Petanque category.

A sport that transcends generations

“Many people think it’s an old people’s sport, played in bars. Here we are showing the true image of our sport, with the 3 disciplines and international rules, with athletes who are young. As Argentines, and as people from Santa Fe, we have the double responsibility of making sure these Games go well,” said Marcelo Bravo, president of the Pan American Bocce Confederation.

The national team includes Argentine champions and representatives at world championships and the World Games. “We have a country where bocce is everywhere. In Santa Fe it is the second most practiced sport, surprising as that may be to many. In every little town, every locality, there is a club, there is a bocce court,” Bravo added.

The bocce competition will continue through Thursday, September 17, in the restored historic railway space, transformed into an urban competition venue for these Games. A court specially designed for precision competitions was installed there. “It is the biggest sports movement in history, not just for Santa Fe but for Argentina, because of the impact, the construction projects, everything that is being left behind,” Bravo insisted.

The large crowd did not go unnoticed by the national players and officials: “It is incredible to see this magnificent stadium, not to mention the crowd and also the appearance of great young bocce players, who are the future of this sport,” said Julio Ceballos, vice president of the Argentine Bocce Confederation. The Santa Fe official also highlighted the growth and visibility these Games provide: “It helps Santa Fe continue to be great, with great clubs that are growing stronger, some with synthetic courts, others that still have dirt courts,” Ceballos said.

A whole lot of history

In addition to the sporting competition, the entrance hall of Belgrano Station is hosting the exhibition “A Whole Lot of History. Neighborhood Clubs and Players from Santa Fe,” an exhibition about this sport and its connection to neighborhoods, identity, and local residents.

Hand in hand with immigration waves, bocce quickly became part of social life in Santa Fe. The practice created gathering spaces where, in addition to playing, people shared celebrations, meetings, and activities that strengthened ties among neighbors.

“It’s the family that revolves around bocce,” reflected Mayor Juan Pablo Poletti, who, together with Provincial Governor Maximiliano Pullaro, took part in the opening of the exhibition. “The barbecue and the toast after the tournament may be enjoyed even more than lifting the trophy. Even though when you compete you like to win, afterward you also like to share, and I think that is what bocce gives,” he added.

The exhibition brings together archives, objects, and memories contributed by the Santa Fe Bocce Association, clubs, and bocce players from the city. The research work was carried out by the City Museum team with contributions from students of the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences at the National University of the Litoral.

Along the same lines, Provincial Governor Maximiliano Pullaro highlighted the presentation of this exhibition, which “makes it possible to showcase a sport with years of history, but which is also deeply rooted in each of our localities and closely tied to our traditions,” he said.

For her part, the exhibition’s curator, Jorgelina Centurión, expressed her joy at the interdisciplinary work: “This game is not just a game; it is tied to a social practice that has truly built neighborly bonds, built and strengthened social ties, and those are the issues we talk about at the City Museum.”

The initiative was supported by the Santa Fe Bocce Association, the City Council, and the clubs Escalante, Pasaje Suárez, Granaderos, Altos del Valle, Rep. Los Hornos, Central María Selva, Independiente, Los Poquitos, and Los 40.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.