Today, Pétanque is more than just an activity with friends—the game is played competitively at regional, national and international levels around the world
With an interactive Doodle by Google makes a small tribute to pétanque the favorite French outdoor game played all over the world
Long before pétanque became the favorite activity of the French, the Ancient Greek they were playing a game throwing flat stones and eventually stone balls. After modifying the game by adding a target ball, ancient Roman soldiers and sailors brought the game to France.
The rules of the game are quite simple: throw, or roll your team’s metal balls closer to the target than the other team. In a series of rounds, the first player or team to collect thirteen points wins! The goal may sound simple, but players can use a number of tactics to gain an advantage over their opponent. “Shooting” is a popular strategy, often used at competitive levels, where players try to knock an opponent’s ball away from the target.
Today, pétanque is more than just an activity with friends—the game is played competitively at the regional, national, and international levels around the world. The best players participate in events such as Mondial La Marseillaise in France and La British Open in England.
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