Pajulahti will host Finland’s World Boccia Challenger tournament

Pajulahti will host Finland’s first World Boccia Challenger tournament in May 2024

The Pajulahti Olympic and Paralympic Training Center located in Nastola, Lahti, has been chosen to host the international World Boccia Challenger tournament from May 9th to 17th, 2024. This marks the first time such a high-level paraboccia tournament is being held in Finland.

“I hope and believe that this tournament will bring the same boost to Finnish paraboccia as the Tokyo Paralympic Games did a couple of years ago, encouraging new players to engage in both recreational and competitive sports across Finland,” says paraboccia head coach Jan Huopainen.

Around one hundred players from various parts of the world are expected to come to Pajulahti. Paraboccia is a sport designed for individuals with severe disabilities, imposing strict accessibility requirements on tournament organizers. However, Pajulahti has established itself over the past decade as a proficient organizer of para-sports events. This is evidenced by Pajulahti being Finland’s first and so far only official Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

“We are extremely pleased that Pajulahti’s efforts in para-sports are being recognized internationally, and we are entrusted with organizing events of this caliber and size. International paraboccia competitions are a fantastic addition to our event calendar, and hopefully, we can attract both new players and spectators to this wonderful sport,” says Laura Kittelä, Director of Events at Pajulahti.

Pajulahti has previously hosted the European Para Youth Games for young para-athletes twice—in 2019 and 2022—with paraboccia being one of the featured sports.

Paraboccia is a summer Paralympic sport, with the Finnish Paralympic Committee serving as its national governing body. Finland has had boccia players compete in the Paralympic Games only once, at the Beijing Games in 2008, represented by Leena Särelä, Vesa Koivuniemi, and Timo Ollikka.