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Pétanque
A French bowling game for two teams of 1–3 members: players take turns throwing heavy metal balls (boules, around 700 g) as close as possible to a small wooden ball called the "jack" (cochonnet). It is played on a gravel court and is especially popular among the older generation.
Why here: An otherwise peaceful game, in which a fatal incident occurred — a ball meant for precise throws served as a weapon.
More info →One of the players, an 81-year-old man, struck his 68-year-old opponent in the face with a ball during the scuffle. The opponent collapsed shortly after and, despite a rapid response from paramedics, never regained consciousness. 24 heures ↗
After questioning, the 81-year-old man was charged on Friday, June 19, with "intentional violence causing death without intent to cause it" (the French equivalent of assault resulting in death) and released under judicial supervision. According to prosecutor Alexy Dubourg, he defends himself by claiming he acted in self-defense — he says he was the one first attacked with punches and kicks. An autopsy is to determine the exact cause of death. France 3 ↗
Pétanque is one of the most peaceful French pastimes — practiced mainly by the older generation, with matches accompanied more by good-natured ribbing than violence. The fatal incident in the Landes department thus serves as a dark reminder of how far a dispute over a few square meters of shade can go once summer heatwaves strike. ICI ↗
