Pelota

Origin and rules

Pelota descends from the European jeu de paume tradition, with court versions surviving most strongly in the Basque Country across the Spanish-French border. The International Federation of Basque Pelota was founded in 1929 to govern the family of disciplines.

How it plays

Two singles or pairs alternate striking the ball against a front wall called the fronton, with strict in-bounds and bounce rules. Variants differ in court length, ball type, and the implement: bare hand, leather glove, wooden paxaka, or curved chistera basket.

Competition

The Basque Pelota World Championships are held every four years and feature 14 specialties. Spain, France, Mexico, Argentina, and the United States are leading nations. Pelota was a medal sport at Paris 1900 and a demonstration sport in 1924, 1968, and 1992.