For the moment, no demonstrations in front of the IOC headquarters are planned. And the smooth running of the Olympic Games does not seem to be in danger. Nevertheless: the absence of pétanque on the program of the Parisian meeting fuels many conversations at pastis time on the bowling alleys of France and Navarre. And for good reason: pétanque is an integral part of the French tradition with more than 300,000 members and millions of occasional practitioners, direct or indirect heirs of Marius and Caesar. On reflection, “You point or you shoot” would therefore have had its place as much as skateboarding or breakdancing. And everyone, from their vacation spot, lulled by the song of crickets and cicadas, could have compared themselves with the champions of this universal discipline where we lose our minds in all conscience to kiss Fanny. But, obviously, pétanque still suffers from an image of an aperitif game played in shorts, shirtless and a 51 at the tips of the fingers. Too bad: because, at the highest level, it is a real demanding sport which requires technique, strategy, precision, concentration and, even, physical condition to avoid tendinitis. We simply hope that the organizers of the Games will have provided a space in the Olympic Village to allow the athletes, during the third halves, to tease the jack and soak up the made in France spirit.
To access this article, please connect to the internet.
