The petanque game was officially born in 1907 in La Ciotat (13). It is the result of a simplification of the rules of the Provençal game, its ancestor. Its name comes from the Provencal expression «pés tanqués» meaning feet tanqués, that is planted on the ground. First regional discipline, rooted in the south of France, it has been exported over the decades throughout the French territory, then worldwide. France has 13 regional committees, 106 departmental committees and nearly 6,000 clubs affiliated to the Fédération française de pétanque et de jeu provençal, with almost 300,000 licensees. The petanque has long been a hobby before becoming a full-fledged sport for those who practice it in competition. France, the creator of petanque, is also the first nation in the world both by the number of its followers and by the titles of world champion won by the tricolor teams. Since 1988, France has won 21 gold medals in the men’s world championships in 28 editions. Increasingly popular, petanque enjoys television broadcasts as well as other major sports. It is for many tour operators a symbol of France as it is often included in the program of activities of foreign tourists. Much more than a sport or leisure, it is an integral part of French culture and contributes to the influence of France in the world.
Source © La Poste – Fédération Française de Pétanque et de Jeu Provençal