The Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) launched the Guangzhou Boccia Regional Open on March 23, with 59 people participating in the seven-day event held in the city's Baiyun district.

People compete in the Guangzhou Disabled Persons Sports Center in Baiyun district. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

In 1984, boccia was officially introduced to the Los Angeles Paralympic Games. In 2002, Guangzhou introduced the game in China, as the Guangdong Sports Meeting for Disabled Persons included it as an official event for the first time. The city of Guangzhou ranks highly in boccia and this year boasts four of the top 10 Chinese players.