Building Bocce Courts for the 2005 World Championships in Turin

In 2005, Rete Plastic took on one of the most unusual projects in its history: building eight temporary bocce courts inside a sports arena for the World Bocce Championships in Turin.

The project went far beyond installing fencing. It involved custom steelwork, specialist playing surfaces, transparent protective panels, dedicated accessories and the complete dismantling of the installation after the event.

The main challenge was to create a professional sports facility while protecting the existing arena and ensuring that every component could be removed.

Eight bocce courts covering 800 m²

The championships took place at the former Pala Ruffini, now known as Pala Gianni Asti, one of Turin's major indoor sports venues.

The project included eight playing courts covering approximately 800 m².

Three requirements guided the design: protecting the original flooring, ensuring spectator safety without obstructing visibility, and making the entire structure removable.

Access and material handling inside the arena also presented significant logistical challenges.

After careful planning, Rete Plastic developed a solution approved by the City of Turin and bocce specialists, who helped define the playing surface requirements.

Preparing the playing surfaces

The first stage involved protecting the arena floor with wooden boards and 3 cm thick chipboard panels.

A perimeter structure made from 150 × 150 × 3 mm steel box sections was then installed to contain the playing surface materials and support the protective fencing.

Heavy-duty nylon sheeting was secured inside the structure using metal plates.

Approximately 40 m³ of fine sand was distributed, followed by paving blocks and a 4 cm bituminous layer laid with electronically controlled paving equipment.

Two finishing layers of sand completed the surface, while a specialist asphalt cutter was used to mark the courts. Two different colours helped distinguish the playing areas.

The construction had to provide a compact, consistent playing surface without damaging the original floor underneath.

Transparent Lexan fencing for safety and visibility

One of the project's most distinctive features was the transparent perimeter fencing.

The steel supporting structure carried modular panels with blue-painted frames and 6 mm solid Lexan sheets.

This solution combined impact resistance with excellent visibility, allowing spectators to follow the games while remaining protected from balls leaving the playing area.

A matching pedestrian gate was also manufactured to maintain the same technical and visual characteristics.

Blue and yellow were chosen to reflect the colours associated with Turin and the arena.

Custom-made accessories

The installation also included several pieces of specialist equipment designed for the competition.

These included playing platforms, wooden bag holders, ball holders, scoreboard supports and team identification signs.

Rete Plastic also supplied eight adjustable stands for running shots and a trolley equipped with a sprayer to maintain the required moisture level of the playing surface.

Decorative artificial grass was installed around the outer perimeter, completing the appearance of the temporary sports facility.

Every component was designed to work together as part of a complete turnkey installation.

Complete dismantling after the championships

Once the competition ended, the entire facility had to be removed.

Rete Plastic dismantled the fencing, accessories and playing surfaces, removed the underlying materials and arranged transport and disposal.

The arena was then returned to its original condition, without damage to the existing flooring.

This final stage required careful planning, just like the initial construction.

What this project teaches us about sports fencing

The Turin project demonstrates that sports fencing must often provide much more than simple perimeter protection.

Impact resistance, visibility, modular design, installation efficiency and removability can all be essential requirements.

The combination of steel frames and transparent panels offered a practical solution for a sporting event with very specific needs.

Discover more projects in the “I lavori di Rete Plastic” series on our YouTube channel.

For fencing mesh, modular panels, posts and accessories, visit Fenceshop.eu.