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CNY City to Host World Series of Bocce CNY City to Host World Series of Bocce

The City of Rome New York is hosting the 47th World Series of Bocce.

By Moriah Humiston

MORIAH HUMISTON 1: WHEN YOU THINK OF SPORTS IN THE CITY OF ROME NEW YORK, YOU MIGHT THINK OF TRACK AND FIELD…

OR MAYBE EVEN THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM…

BUT WHEN YOU’RE PASSING THROUGH AND YOU SEE THE TOCCOLANA CLUB… YOU’LL SEE ROME’S MOST WELL-KNOWN SPORT… BOCCE.

IF ITS YOUR FIRST TIME… YOU MIGHT HAVE THE SAME REACTION THAT BERNIE COLANGELO’S FRIEND HAD…

BERNIE COLANGELO: HE WALKS OUT THAT BACK DOOR… AND HE LOOK.. AND HE GOES “WHAT THE F IS THIS” AND I SAYS GINO, THIS IS HOW ROME DOES BOCCE.

HUMISTON: BERNIE IS ONE OF MANY PEOPLE IN ROME WHO ATTEND THE World Series OF BOCCE. THE World Series STARTED IN 1974 AND EVEN SINCE THE EARLIEST TOURNAMENTS LIKE THIS FOOTAGE FROM THE 90’S, THE BOCCE COURTS HAVE BEEN PACKED WITH PEOPLE DURING ONE WEEKEND IN JULY.

FOR THE PAST YEAR, THESE COURTS HAVE BEEN EMPTY BECAUSE OF COVID. NOW, THE CLUB IS STAYING BUSY AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE WORLD SERIES AGAIN THIS COMING JULY.

HUMISTON STANDUP: WHILE BOCCE OR BOCCE IS A FUN GAME TO PLAY AND TO BE COMPETITIVE, HERE AT THE TOCCOLANA CLUB IT’S MORE THAN JUST A GAME. IT’S ABOUT UPHOLDING THE ITALIAN TRADITIONS OF FAITH AND FAMILY.

JOE MELLACE: IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PEOPLE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IN A GREAT WHILE WHETHER THAT BE FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY EACH OTHERS COMPANY IN A SETTING THAT IS VERY RELAXED AND ENJOYABLE.

HUMISTON: ONE PERSON WHO COMES TO BOCCE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME IS 90-YEAR OLD MIKE GENNICO. HE COMES EVERY SATURDAY MORNING WITH HIS FRIENDS TO PLAY.

MIKE GENNICO: I LIKE HITTING. SPOCKING AS THEY CALL IT. I SPECIALIZE IN THAT.

MIKE AND HIS FRIENDS ARE EXAMPLES OF JUST SOME IN THE ROME COMMUNITY WHO MAKE THE GAME OF BOCCE SO MEANINGFUL… IT’S NOT JUST THEIR SKILLS IT’S THEIR PERSONALITY THAT THEY BRING TO THE COURT

MELLACE: WHETHER THEY CRANKY OR ORNARY OR QUIRKY OR FUNNY… WE HAVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE COMING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AGAIN WE’RE ENJOYING EACH OTHER’S COMPANY. AND IT’S FUN TO PLAY IN A COMPETITION WITH THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE.

HUMISTON: SO, WHILE THERE ARE STILL A FEW MORE MONTHS UNTIL WINNERS ARE CROWNED AT THE WORLD SERIES OF BOCCE… AT THE TOCCOLANA CLUB, YOU’LL STILL FIND FRIENDSHIP AND COMPETITION ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. REPORTING FROM ROME, NY, MORIAH HUMISTON NCC NEWS.

ROME, N.Y. (NCC News) – In the city of Rome, New York, one of the most well-known sports and traditions is the game of Bocce. Since 1974, the City has been hosting The World Series of Bocce, where competitors in the community and across the country come to compete.

“It’s an opportunity to see people you haven’t seen in a great while whether that be friends or family,” Joe Mellace, President of Rome’s Toccolanna Club said. “It’s just an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company in a setting that is very relaxed and enjoyable.”

Every July, Rome’s Toccolana Club hosts The World Series. While it’s about the competition for some, for other’s it’s more than just a game. It’s about coming together as a community and being with friends and family. For 90-year-old Mike Gennico, he comes to play on the courts every Saturday with his friends and for the love of the game.

“I like hitting,” Gennico said. “Spocking as they call it. I specialize in that.”

Mellace says that Gennico and other members of the Rome community are the reason to come to play bocce and enjoy the atmosphere the club and the Rome community have to offer.

“We have all those people coming in on a regular basis and again we’re enjoying each other’s company. It’s fun to play in a competition with those types of people,” Mellace said.

The club is starting to make preparations for this year. The World Series of Bocce will take place at the Toccolana Club in Rome, New York this coming July.

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