Sofia’s Academica stadium hosted between September 29 and October 1 the First  Petanque Balkaniad for Men, Women, Cadets and Juniors. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Petanque Federation with the assistance of Sofia 2018 European Capital of Sports, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and Academica 2011 Company.

69 athletes from 4 countries (Greece, Serbia, Turkey and Bulgaria) took part at the championships. They competed in 4 disciplines- singles, doubles, triples and precision shooting. The member of the management board of the International Federation of Petanque Mutlu Turkmen was a special guest of the event.

The competition was held in a very friendly atmosphere. After the winner ceremony the participants demonstrated the common Balkan spirit at a horo chain dance where athletes from Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia and Greece danced hand in hand. Turkey placed first in the overall ranking with 71 points, followed by Bulgaria with 27 points.

Greece finished third with 9 points and Serbia took the last place in the ranking with 8 points. Bulgaria’s women’s and men’s triplets and Adel Abdelmalek (in Men’s precision shooting) earned three Balkan titles for Bulgaria. Serbia and Turkey applied to host the next Petanque Balkaniad in 2018. Earlier in September it became clear during the session of the International Olympic Committee in Lima (Peru) that petanque will be presented as Olympic Sport during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov