The Asunción 2022 South American Games meant for Paraguay the investment in important sports infrastructure works that will remain as a legacy for the new generations of Guarani athletes. One of these works that is outstanding and well regarded by national and international athletes and leaders is the National Bocce Center, located in the Paraguayan Olympic Park.
The first bochódromo in Paraguay, considered one of the most important in the continent, receives its first official competition, nothing more and nothing less than the Odesur South American Games. With the participation of 35 bochófilos representing six nations of the continent. At the opening of the first day, Alcides Acosta, president of the Paraguayan Bocce Federation, shared his views on the historical event that is taking place in the country.
“Our slogan says everyone’s dream, and now our dream has come true. We started the competition already a little relaxed with the successful starts yesterday in the practices, and today in the competition. Paraguay has already entered to compete on the first day and I already won, so this is already starting to roll, “said Acosta.
The head of the Paraguayan matrix of bowls also added that “for us, in the world of bowls, this will truly be a before and after. Thank God, 30 days before the boys from the under 18s gave us a very strong push by becoming World Champions and today, these boys leave us the burden of achieving something in these Odesur games to show the growth of the Paraguayan bowl”.
“As president of the Federation, I am very proud of what we have and also very grateful to the SND and the COP for what they are promoting us by giving us this space and all the support,” concluded Acosta.
A UNIQUE INFRASTRUCTURE
Marcelo Bravo, President of the Pan American Bowling Confederation and Vice President of the World Bowling Federation, is in the country to accompany the development of the competitions that take place within the framework of the Asunción 2022 South American Games and weighed positively the imposing sports arena.
“We are very proud, and not only for Paraguayans, but for all of America and the world. Having a Bowling Stadium within an Olympic Park of a country is an exception and a wonder. From the international entities we are already committed to bringing it to life and managing international championships in this venue that deserves it because it has been wonderful”, explained Bravo.
About the National Bocce Center, the international leader remarked that “this scenario gives Paraguay a home of its own and at the same time it is something unprecedented in the world, since in a single Stadium the three modalities of Bocce are shared: Raffa Volo, Petanque and Zervin). You will be able to observe that in the stadium there are three different floors”, he sentenced.
Bravo explained that the stage has the three internationally recognized modalities. “Here are the three bowling modalities recognized by the International Olympic Committee as valid. There are 126 countries playing bowls in the world and we only need that permission from the IOC to be actively in an Olympic Games”, he pointed out.
SUSTAINED GROWTH
When asked about his analysis regarding the growth of the practice of bowls in Paraguay before the continent and the world, the international sports leader said that “there is an enormous job that the Paraguayan Federation has done in recent years, touring all the cities of Paraguay. That has added more athletes and gives the sport competitiveness.”
The great work carried out by the Paraguayan leadership has also validated the trust of the international entities that act as the matrix for the Bocce practice. “From the World Federation they have been sent different kits of bowls, mats and elements, and with this the Paraguayan Federation is touring the entire country to promote the bowl, especially in the youth”, explained Bravo.
At the end, the foreign visitor stated that. “The proofs of the great growth of Bowls in Paraguay are given because the results are there. This Stadium and what they are achieving are the reward for the work. In sports, Paraguay has already obtained first place and the gold medal at the Youth World Cup in Rome. That is a big step and it is the reward for the effort”.
DELUSION
For Ramona Torres, bochophile and great sports lover, she feels that the inauguration of this space with competitions such as the Odesur South American Games is the realization of a long-awaited dream. “First of all, proud, happy and content because it is done in our country and with this bochódromo that they made for us, it is a dream that has come true,” she exclaims.
In her debut at the Odesur South American Games, Ramona teamed up with Marcos Moreira and together they opened the Guaraní participation with a great victory against their pair from Chile in the Raffa Volo Mixed Pairs modality. The duel was left in the hands of the locals by a score of 12-4.
At the end of his debut, Torres highlighted that part of what he has achieved is thanks to the great accompaniment of the public. “The encouragement of our people gives us more encouragement, more strength to be able to win, we also owe them for coming to join us,” said the athlete.
“Everything that is being experienced in these games is something beautiful, something that cannot be believed. As the Paraguayan always feels when something excites him, I can say that living this Chemopirîmba experience. To the athletes of Team Paraguay I say -Strength that can be done-. That’s what we practiced for and we have to do everything possible to get on the podium and achieve that gold medal that we long for so much”, he concluded.
