With the recent addition of Jamaica and Aruba to the World Boccia members, boccia is gaining traction in the Caribbean.
Peter Hornig, the President of Boccia Jamaica, Senior Boccia coach, and World Boccia contributor is leading the project under the name “Cariboccia – Caribbean Boccia Union”. This organisation was created as a response to the interest boccia was receiving from various Caribbean NPCs.
Cariboccia will act as a regional organization for educating and training member nations, providing resources for play, hosting workshops, and events, and acting as a cross-regional boccia-specific HOC when hosting tournaments. Its mission is simple “To lead and develop Boccia in the Caribbean as one.” The Caribbean Boccia Union’s strategic plan can be found here.
Boccia projects are underway in Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad, and Tobago, Suriname, and Barbados, to name a few. By 2028 the aim is to have structured boccia play established in all 25 nations within the Caribbean. There are also plans for local World Boccia sanctioned tournaments in the form of regional Challengers and World Cups within the Caribbean. With generous ball donations made by Boccia manufacturer, Tutti per Tutti, Caribbean players are given all the right tools to shine in training and prepare for international competitions.
Alongside Peter Hornig, Boccia Jamaica (the newest member federation of World Boccia) is led by a founding Board of Shauna-Kay Hines PLY (Vice President), Adam Levy (Treasurer), Dana-Gaye Weller PLY (Safeguarding Officer), Sophrya Price (Athlete Representative) and Jason Rickets (Communication Officer). Shauna-Kay represented Jamaica at para-taekwondo at Tokyo 2020 and Dana-Gaye represented Jamaica at para-athletics at Rio 2016 so both bring considerable experience to the Board.
We look forward to welcoming boccia players from the Caribbean at World Boccia events in 2023.
