World Boccia and Gerflor have signed a new four-year agreement that extends one of the sport’s most established technical partnerships and marks the third consecutive contract cycle between the sport’s international governing body and the global flooring manufacturer.
The renewed deal confirms Gerflor as the official flooring provider for all top-tier boccia competitions worldwid. It also sets the framework for a deeper collaboration with athletes as the company looks to refine future surfaces in line with the sport’s evolving technical demands.
“This is a long-standing relationship and one we are very proud of,” said Lionel Arlin, Sports Federations & Events Manager at Gerflor.
“Boccia is a very unique sport with some of the most incredible athletes in the world.
We are glad to contribute, to support inclusivity, and to be part of a sport that demands such precision and consistency.”
World Boccia chief executive Paul Trayner said: “World Boccia are delighted to not only continue, but to build on this long-standing relationship with one of our most valued partners.
“As the floor of choice for the Paralympic Games, Gerflor supply us with a world class surface that allows our athletes to excel.
“Boccia is a sport that relies on precision, where medals can be won or lost based on millimetres, and having a consistent surface that the athletes can rely on assists shot-making and the overall growing quality of our competitions.
“Nations looking to provide their athletes with a competitive advantage are increasingly looking to have permanent Gerflor surfaces in their national training centres to give them an edge.
“Our excellent working relationship with Gerflor is complimented by a matching attitude towards being athlete-focussed and sustainable in the way that we operate. We look forward to working with Gerflor to achieve our joint goals and thank them for their ongoing support.”
A Global Flooring Leader With Deep Roots in Para Sport
Gerflor is one of the world’s leading industrial manufacturers of sports flooring, working across three main pillars: multisport surfaces for schools and educational facilities; global, large-scale sport flooring delivery; and elite sports—both Olympic and Paralympic—using portable, temporary floors.
The company’s history with major international events spans nearly 50 years. Gerflor designed and delivered its first Olympic temporary floor for the 1976 Olympic Games, and has remained a supplier across handball, volleyball, table tennis and other indoor sports ever since.
Its involvement in para sport began with the London 2012 Paralympics through sitting volleyball.
Boccia represents a special part of this journey.
“It’s less dynamic than some of our traditional sports like handball, but it is far more intellectual and technical,” added Arlin. “For boccia, uniformity is everything.”
Why Boccia Surfaces Demand Perfection
Boccia’s elite players—many of whom have severe impairments—compete in a sport where millimetres matter. Gerflor’s pre-manufactured Taraflex rolls are engineered to ensure absolute consistency in ball-rolling behaviour across every court.
“Our floors give players the same rolling effects of the ball from one part of the court to another,” Arlin explained. “They can expect the same feedback and the same response every time. Uniform playing conditions are crucial.”
Beyond performance, the floors give boccia venues a distinctive visual identity.
“It gives a beautiful, uniform, aesthetic look for players, spectators and TV,” Arlin said. “The colours are respected, the quality is guaranteed, and organisers know exactly what they’re getting.”
A More Athlete-Driven Future
One of the most significant developments to emerge from the renewed partnership could be Gerflor’s ambition to opening direct dialogue with elite boccia players for the first time.
While player input has historically been limited, the company now intends to consult leading athletes and coaches over potential refinements such as ball-speed behaviour, friction levels and feel.
“At the moment, we don’t have formal discussions with players—but we would be glad to talk with them next year,” Arlin said.
“Even if changes are small, it’s important to hear what they need. They may tell us the floor is too quick, too slow, or they may say they don’t want anything changed at all. The conversation itself is valuable.”
Gerflor already supplies official flooring to some national training bases, allowing athletes to practise on the same surface used at major events. The company hopes that similar partnerships can expand internationally—particularly ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Arlin confirmed that Gerflor’s U.S. team has already been briefed to connect with the American boccia community. Discussions with the LA28 organisers on technical requirements, including colour schemes and installation logistics, are expected to begin in the first half of next year.
“We want to help build more training centres with official flooring, especially before national camps,” Arlin said. “If there are opportunities for special clubs or dedicated boccia spaces in the U.S., we want to be part of those conversations.”
Sustainability Now at the Core of Boccia Flooring
The Paris 2024 Paralympics showcased not only Gerflor’s precision-engineered boccia floor but also the company’s increasingly ambitious sustainability programme.
In 2025, Gerflor launched its new bio Taraflex range—an eco-designed sports surface made with 81% bio-content, mineral and recycled materials. The innovation reduces carbon footprint while maintaining the same performance that boccia athletes depend on.
All Gerflor boccia floors are also 100% recyclable and eligible for the company’s Second Life take-back programme. Installation waste can already be collected for recycling free of charge in 10 European countries.
“For event organisers, sustainability is becoming essential,” Arlin said. “Most of our flooring now includes natural and ecological components. We reuse and recycle our materials, and we want to continue expanding that approach.”
A Partnership Built on Precision, Access and Inclusion
The renewed agreement cements Gerflor’s role as a cornerstone technology partner for boccia, providing world-class surfaces designed for fairness, consistency, and elite competition. It also marks the beginning of a more collaborative relationship with the athletes whose performance depends on those floors.
“We are an industrial company, but we also want to share our service and our philosophy with parasport,” Arlin said. “We are glad and very proud to contribute.”
