An ancient rural tradition became a national sporting spectacle in Perugia, Umbria, where approximately 600 athletes gathered to compete in the 53rd Italian Ruzzolone Championship. The tournament took place from August 28 to 30 at the Treppi facility, beside the historic Collestrada woodland.
Returning to the Perugia area after a 5-year absence, the competition attracted players representing between 50 and 60 sports clubs. Participants arrived primarily from Umbria and Tuscany, as well as the provinces of Rieti and Viterbo in Lazio and the Emilia-Romagna provinces of Bologna, Modena, and Reggio Emilia. When referees, organizers, and accompanying guests were included, the event was expected to generate about 1,000 total attendees.
Ruzzolone traces its origins to the ancient Etruscans and became especially popular during the Middle Ages. Closely associated with farming communities in central Italy, the original game involved rolling or throwing a wheel of aged cheese along country roads. Modern competitors use a wooden disc measuring 26 centimeters in diameter and 6 centimeters thick, with a minimum weight of 2 kilograms.
The disc is launched by hand or with a cotton cord wrapped around its edge. Players alternate turns, beginning each new throw from the exact spot where the ruzzolone stopped. Victory goes to the athlete or pair completing the designated course with the fewest throws. Competitors were divided into 3 categories, with both individual and pairs events.
The championship was promoted by the Italian Federation of Traditional Games and Sports, which has approximately 40,000 registered members nationwide, and organized by the Bosco Ruzzolone sports association. It received support from the Umbria Region, the Province of Perugia, and the City of Perugia.
Beyond the national titles, the gathering celebrated a living piece of Italian identity – transforming an activity born on rural roads into an organized sport that continues to connect generations, communities, and territories.
