Boules sports struggle to get over their traditional tie-ins with Gaulish culture. The smoking and beret-totting players in town squares all over France hardly portray the modern and athletic games which have evolved over the last few decades. Just imagine running one kilometer in less than five minutes – while delivering precision throws non-stop at different targets, at distances of up to 18 meters! Exceptional concentration and great physical fitness are paramount in boules sports. And they are found outside of the Mediterranean basin as well. Pétanque and Boule Lyonnaise national teams from Madagascar, Thailand and China each won silver at The World Games 2005.

In Boule Lyonnaise's Progressive Shuttle Throw, the most physically exerting of all events, the athletes run from one end of the field of play to the other, each time picking up a bowl, taking aim and delivering a precision throw at the target on the opposite end. Again and again – over five grueling minutes!

With 42 hits out of 46 throws, World Games 2005 Champion Ilenia Pasin (ITA) equalized her own world record and added yet another title to her palmares.

 Boules sports at The World Games 2005