Indianapolis Italians - Bocce, anyone? Traditional Geocache
Indianapolis Italians - Bocce, anyone?
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Bocce is the Italian version of lawn bowling. Like so many other sports, it has evolved over a long period of time. The basis of the game can be traced back to similar games that were played in Egypt around 5000 BC. Records dating to the 3rd century BC also indicate the popularity of a bocce-like game with the Roman soldiers who spread it throughout the empire.
Much of the modern resurgence of the sport comes due to Italian soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi, an avid player of the game who did much to popularize the sport in the 19th century and saw it as a hallmark of Italian culture.
Italian immigrants brought bocce to the United States. Its original centers of popularity were New York City and San Francisco because of their large Italian-American populations. But, as newer generations grew away from the sport, bocce declined and seemed in danger of extinction in this country.
The U. S. Bocce Federation says there are about 1 million players in the United States. Indianapolis has 4 bocce courts located within Edna Balz Lacy Park. In 2002, Joe Giacoletti, with the help of neighbors and Italian Heritage Society of Indiana members Aldo Mina, Sam Povinelli, Pietro Ferri and Angelo Piga, the first two bocce courts were completed. In 2005, Joe approached the Society to build two additional courts because the demand had grown tremendously. The growth from that first season of 12 teams to the recently completed summer league of 48 teams has been incredible. Through these past 5 years the Bocce League has been on a Field of Dreams ride. If you build it they will come, and come they do. Interestingly, the people who have been attracted to the sport are not all Italian. About one third of the league members are also members of the Italian Heritage Society.
You are looking for a micro. There could be some muggles here, depending upon when you visit.
Note: Please be VERY, VERY careful when replacing the cache. Thanks and have fun!! (Grazie e buon divertimento!)
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