Sports Events in Laos

Undoubtedly a hangover from the French colonial influence in the area, petanques (also called boules in France) is widely played and greatly enjoyed. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, a small ball, usually made of wood, is thrown out on a rectangular pitch (normally about 20 yards long). The players then take it in turn to throw metal balls about the size of a cricket ball and the player with the ball(s) nearest to the small ball sores accordingly. I am sure I am not explaining this very well, so hopefully the attached website will assist, should you be interested.

If you show any sort of interest at all, you may be invited to join in a game as I was in the small village of Banchene, at least I think that was the name, there were no signs, on the far bank of the Mekong from Luang Prabang. If you are offered, I recommend you join in, it is great fun and not overly difficult to master although I am sure it takes years to become really good.

Much is made about the evils of colonialism but there seems to be much the Lao have retained from the French times to their obvious relish. Were it not so, these things would have died out.

Equipment: None unless you feel like bringing you own boules but they are freely avaiable wherever there is petanque played.