Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

European International Series

Entrants 1998: Switzerland (CH) • France (F) • Greece (GR) • Hungary (H)
Italy (I) • Netherlands (NL) • Portugal (P)

Presenters / Commentators of International Competitions:
Caterina Ruggeri (TSI - CH)
Christelle Ballestrero and Jean-Luc Reichmann (FRANCE 2 - F)
Kostas Sgontzos (ERT-ET1 - GR)
Maria Borbas (MTV - H)
Flavia Fortunato and Mauro Serio (RAI - I)
Ron Boszhard and Jack Van Gelder (TROS - NL)
Maria Joao Silveira (RTP - P)

International Referee:
Denis Pettiaux
Carlo Pegoraro (Assistant)

National Referees:
Suzanne Landzaat (NL)

Production Credits:

National Games Designers: Gianmaria Verda (CH), Pierre Faucon (F), Spyros Ornerakis (GR), Attila Apró (H), Armando Nobili (I), Speer Stok (NL)

Produced by TSI (CH), FRANCE 2 (F), ERT-ET1 (GR), MTV (H),
RAI UNO (I), TROS (NL), RTP (P)

Key: International Heats ● = Qualified for International Final / ● = Heat Winner (Silver Trophy) International Final ● = Gold Trophy / ● = Silver Trophy / ● = Bronze Trophy Trophy   ▲ = Promoted to Position / ▼ = Demoted to Position

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 1

Event Staged: Thursday 28th May 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 18th July 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (1st)
MTV (H): Sunday 19th July 1998 (1st)
RTP (P): Friday 7th August 1998, 10.00-11.55pm (1st)
France 2 (F): Monday 17th August 1998 (7th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 7th January 1999, 7.00pm (1st)

Weather Conditions:
Torrential Rain

Teams: Stabio (CH) v. Sainte-Maxime-sur-Mer (F) v. Hydra (GR) v. Eger (H) v.
Borgosesia (I) v. Vlieland (NL) v. Lamego (P)

Games: Basketball, Giraffes and Leaves, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, Knocking Down the Cans, The Velcro Slope, The Floating Caterpillar Tracks, The Foxes and the Eggs, The Barbells, The American Footballers, Channeling the Pouring Water, The Chefs and the Food, The Regatta, Keys to the Castle, The Flower Vases and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: Scaling the Rings;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 P • Lamego ●
 NL • Vlieland ●
 I • Borgosesia
 GR • Hydra
 H • Eger
 CH • Stabio
 F • Sainte-Maxime-sur-Mer

86
76
74
65
61
59
43

The Games in Detail

Game 3 - Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas

The third game - 'Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas' - was a standard game used throughout the 1998 International Series. Male team members (one for each team), dressed as sumo wrestlers, had to climb a slope along a red ribbon. At the top of the slope, female competitors (dressed as geishas) from opposing teams rolled balls down the slope to hinder the climbing sumos on their ascent.

Game 5 - The Velcro Slope

The fifth game - The Velcro Slope' - was particularly demanding. It involved male players having to climb out of a pool and up a steep slope each using two metal-handled circular pads with Velcro material on the reverse. At the top of the slope, female opponents were on hand to throw water down the slope, hoping to impede the climbers. Such was the difficulty of the task set, that when the maximum time of two minutes had expired, there were no competitors on the slope. None had succeeded in climbing to the top and the result was decided based on how far each competitor had made it up the slope before falling back down. The French team of Sainte-Maxime-sur-Mer secured 1st place on the game with a score of 8 in 2 minutes.

Game 7 - The Foxes and the Eggs

The seventh game - 'The Foxes and the Eggs' - was the second standard game used throughout the 1998 JSF. Two competitors for each team were dressed as foxes. In turn they had to go into a pool of foam and catch eggs which were falling from the nether regions of a giant chicken.

Game 11 - The Chefs and the Food

The eleventh game - 'The Chefs and the Food' - was the third standard game used throughout the 1998 series. Competitors dressed as chefs had to climb up a greased slope (which had a moving rubber belt at the halfway point) while they carried as many food items with them as possible. As if that wasn't difficult enough on its own, opponents dressed as animals were launching themselves from the top of the slope, their aim being to hit and upend the cooks on their descent, so that the cooks would have to start over. This was undoubtedly the funniest game of the 1998 Jeux Sans Frontières. It was quite wonderfully chaotic!

Game 13 - Keys to the Castle

The thirteenth game - 'Keys to the Castle' - was the fourth standard game used throughout Jeux Sans Frontières' 1998 series. A male team member had to swim across a pool and climb a slope by means of a rope to reach a castle. Once there, there was a second rope for him to climb, at the top which he had to grab a hanging key. As soon as the key was retrieved, a prisoner (a female team member) was released. Both the prisoner and rescuer then had to swim back across the pool to finish the game.

Fil Rouge - Scaling the Rings

In common with 'The Velcro Slope', the Fil Rouge - 'Scaling the Rings' - was another tough, physical game which tested competitors to the maximum. It involved one male and one female team member jumping into the pool, swimming to its centre and then scaling a rope. The rope led up to a circular set of six suspended rings with a JSF logo at their centre. The idea was for both players to climb the rope, get on to the lowermost ring and then climb the side rings and eventually ascend to the top ring. When they both held on to the top of the upper ring, their time would be taken. Unfortunately, this task proved difficult many of the female team members, with the Swiss and Italian girls unable to even climb the rope from the pool, meaning they did not reach the rings. In these two instances, their male team mates eventually gave up trying to assist them and made for the top themselves, meaning the team would at least score one finish.

Game 15 - Rafting the Barrels

The fifteenth and final game - 'Rafting the Barrels' - was the fifth standard game always used to round off the 1998 JSF competitions. Two competitors had to transport two barrels over a slope by walking on top of them, trying to keep their balance. At the other side, four fellow team members on a raft were waiting for them. When both barrels were handed over, the four competitors had to pilot their raft across the swimming pool with those barrels. The rafts were attached to ropes at the poolside and their progress depended on fellow team members who were bouncing up and down on a platform, this operation allowing the rope to unwind from its reel. As the reels unwound, the rafts could progress further across the pool. When the rafts reached the other side, the barrels had to be taken off, and the team members on the far poolside has to dive into the pool. Once they had made it across the pool and climbed from the pool, they had to stand by the barrels to end the game.

Additional Information

The weather in Trento, where all the 1998 JSF competitions were staged, was never easy to predict. However, the producers weren't quite expecting what they got when they readied themselves to record Heat 1. There was so much rain that the start of the event was delayed in the hope that the rain would pass over and better conditions would come with time. It soon became clear that this was a naive hope and the rains were there to stay. As a result this first heat was played in torrential rain. There were puddles everywhere and the arena floor and playing surfaces were dangerously slippery.

The Portuguese broadcaster RTP started up their 1998 JSF transmissions several weeks later than was usual for the series due to their broadcasting of the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 2

Event Staged: Thursday 4th June 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 13th July 1998 (2nd)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 25th July 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (2nd)
MTV (H): Sunday 26th July 1998 (2nd)
RTP (P): Friday 14th August 1998, 10.00-11.45pm (2nd)
TROS (NL): Thursday 14th January 1999, 7.00pm (2nd)

Teams: Ascona (CH) v. Perros-Guirec (F) v. Ioannina (GR) v. Tiszaújváros (H) v.
Val Gardena Südtirol (I) v. Haarlemmermeer (NL) v. Amadora (P)

Games: Crossing the Beam, Circular Ice Hockey, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, The Floating Streetlamps, The Vacuum Cleaners, The Loch Ness Monsters, The Foxes and the Eggs, Tandem Tug-o-War, The Rope Ladder, Keys and Padlocks, The Chefs and the Food, The Carousel Hurdles, Keys to the Castle, The Thirsty Cows and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: The Western Express;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th
6th
7th

 I • Val Gardena Südtirol ● ●
 NL • Haarlemmermeer
 H • Tiszaújváros
 P • Amadora
 F • Perros-Guirec
 GR • Ioannina
 CH • Ascona

88
72
66
63
63
60
55

The Games in Detail

Game 8 - Tandem Tug-o-War

Game 8 - 'Tandem Tug-o-War' - involved two tandem bicycles that had been welded together into one, so that the riders faced opposite ways. Each tandem carried two team members and they had to pedal their half of the bike one way while their opponents tried to peddle theirs in the opposite direction. Obviously, the bicycle would go one way or the other, with the stronger pedallers winning. The team which  In three heats, a total of six teams got their chance to beat their opponent. The winners of these heats received the three highest positions. The three heats lasted a total of 14 seconds, making this the shortest lasting game ever played in Jeux Sans Frontières.

Game 10 - Keys and Padlocks

In Game 10 - 'Keys and Padlocks' - team members had to take one of six enormous keys, carry it over a swimming pool and then climb a slope. At the top, the players were presented a series of six locks, only one of which would work with each key. To make things more awkward, running belts would hinder the teams while putting the key in the lock. However, the key that the French team were using broke, but unusually, they were not offered the chance to re-run the game. They eventually finished 4th out of six with a score of 10 in 1 minute and 35 seconds.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 3

Event Staged: Wednesday 10th June 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 20th July 1998 (3rd)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 1st August 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (3rd)
MTV (H): Sunday 2nd August 1998 (3rd)
RTP (P): Friday 21st August 1998, 10.00-11.45pm (3rd)
TROS (NL): Thursday 21st January 1999, 7.00pm (3rd)

Teams: Monte Generoso (CH) v. La Grande-Motte (F) v. Nea Philadelphia (GR) v.
Gyöngyös (H) v. Realmonte (I) v. Breda (NL) v. Águeda (P)

Games: Forcing the Door, Dog Tag, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, Doing the Dishes, Egg Golf, Football, The Foxes and the Eggs, The Floats, The Ball, Tea, The Chefs and the Food, Volumetric Instruments, Keys to the Castle, The Vat and Rafting the Barrels;

Fil Rouge: The Vases;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th

 P • Águeda ●
 H • Gyöngyös
 GR • Nea Philadelphia
 CH • Monte Generoso
 F • La Grande-Motte
 I • Realmonte
 NL • Breda

80
77
76
76
60
48
42

Additional Information

In the International Final of 1998, the best games from the nine elimination heats were played again. With the exception of the five standard games which were played at all heats, no games from Heat 3 were chosen to be played again.

Six of the nine International Heats produced qualifiers for the International Final. Only Heats 3, 5 and 9 did not and ironically, each of these was won by a team scoring 80 points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 4

Event Staged: Tuesday 16th June 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 6th July 1998 (1st)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 8th August 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (4th)
MTV (H): Sunday 9th August 1998 (4th)
RTP (P): Friday 28th August 1998, 11.45pm-1.15am (4th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 28th January 1999, 7.00pm (4th)

Teams: Martigny (CH) v. La Clusaz (F) v. Limni (Evias) (GR) v.
Budapest XVIII Kerület (H) v. Bibione (I) v.
Alphen aan den Rijn (NL) v. Vila Franca de Xira (P)

Games: The Bells, Limbo Dancing Waiters, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, The Oil Platforms, Turning Off the Showers, The Tangled Ropes, The Foxes and the Eggs, Catching Butterflies, Planting the Flag on the Moon, Breaking the Windows, The Chefs and the Food, The Balls Across the Pool, Keys to the Castle, Merry-Go-Round Basketball and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: Human Ten-Pin Bowling;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 F • La Clusaz ● ●
 GR • Limni (Evias)
 P • Vila Franca de Xira
 CH • Martigny
 NL • Alphen aan den Rijn
 H • Budapest XVIII Kerület
 I • Bibione

74
72
71
70
69
62
53

Additional Information

La Clusaz (F) won this heat with 74 points out of a possible 112. This exactly matched the record achieved by Swiss team Roche (1976, JSF Heat 2) in winning a Jeux Sans Frontières competition with the lowest percentage of possible points. They both claimed barely 66% of the points available to them.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 5

Event Staged: Monday 22nd June 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 3rd August 1998 (5th)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 15th August 1998, 8.45-11.05pm (5th)
MTV (H): Sunday 16th August 1998 (5th)
RTP (P): Friday 4th September 1998, 10.00-11.45pm (5th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 4th February 1999, 7.00pm (5th)

Teams: Regione San Gottardo (CH) v. Cambrai (F) v. Elefsina (GR) v.
Miskolc (H) v. Valtopina (I) v. Meppel (NL) v. Torres Vedras (P)

Games: The Wall of Paint, The Giant Piano Keys, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, Crows and Fruit Trees, Tugboats and Albatrosses, The Airport Luggage, The Foxes and the Eggs, Dressing on the Rolling Cylinder, The Medieval Lancers, The Sweeping Hurdles, The Chefs and the Food, The Submarines, Keys to the Castle, The Fish Bowls and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: Giant Pinball;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
2nd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 P • Torres Vedras ●
 F • Cambrai
 CH • Regione San Gottardo
 H • Miskolc
 NL • Meppel
 GR • Elefsina
 I • Valtopina

80
77
77
70
65
54
52

Additional Information

This heat ended in a tie for 2nd place between French team Cambrai and Regione San Gottardo of Switzerland, with both teams scoring 77 pts. The two teams each received a silver award for 2nd place. However, viewers of Greek TV may have found this confusing as on the final scoreboard in the Greek version, the Swiss team was clearly denoted as having finished in 3rd place! This was one of many scoreboard errors in the Greek version, which displayed incorrect points, Jokers, spellings of team names and more besides.

Six of the nine International Heats produced qualifiers for the International Final. Only Heats 3, 5 and 9 did not and ironically, each of these was won by a team scoring 80 points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 6

Event Staged: Monday 5th July 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 10th August 1998 (6th)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 22nd August 1998, 8.45-11.10pm (6th)
MTV (H): Sunday 23rd August 1998 (6th)
RTP (P): Friday 11th September 1998, 11.50pm-1.35am (6th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 11th February 1999, 7.00pm (6th)

Teams: Novazzano (CH) v. Royan (F) v. Komotini (GR) v. Budapest V Kerület (H) v.
Val di Sole (I) v. Heerlen (NL) v. Oeiras (P)

Team Members included:
Komotini (GR) - Alexandros Ioannidis.

Games: Balloon Popping, Bicycle Football, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, In the Lion's Mouth, The Drilling Rigs, The Bread and the Ovens, The Foxes and the Eggs, Sacks from the Mill, Musical Chairs for Horses, Skipping on Balls on the Pool, The Chefs and the Food, The Towers of Glasses, Keys to the Castle, Leaping for Pendants and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: The Double Tightrope;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 GR • Komotini ● ●
 I • Val di Sole
 NL • Heerlen
 P • Oeiras
 H • Budapest V Kerület
 F • Royan
 CH • Novazzano

83
79
70
68
65
62
42

Additional Information

No non-standard games from this heat were included in those replayed in the 1998 International Final.

This was to prove the last win in Jeux Sans Frontières for Greece. The team from Komotini would follow up their win here with an excellent 2nd place in the International Final. In 1999, Patra would repeat Komotini's International Final result, but qualified for the final with another 2nd place.

In March 2011, JSFnetGREECE presented an interview with Alexandros Ioannidis, competitor for the Greek team, Komotini. It can be read by following this link - Alexandros Ioannidis interview.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 7

Event Staged: Saturday 11th July 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 27th July 1998 (4th)
MTV (H): Sunday 30th August 1998 (7th)
RAI Uno (I): Tuesday 1st September 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (7th)
RTP (P): Friday 18th September 1998, 9.55-11.40pm (7th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 18th February 1999, 7.00pm (7th)

Teams: Bellinzona (CH) v. Mâcon (F) v. Katastari (Zakinthos) (GR) v.
Hajdúszoboszló (H) v. Torre Annunziata (I) v. Hilversum (NL) v. Peniche (P)

Games: The Mice, Mississippi Paddle Boats, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, Tied to the Water Wheel, Hamsters in Wheels, The Tongues of the Iguanas, The Foxes and the Eggs, Grabbing the Swinging Bottles, The Victorian Ball Hurlers, The Elasticated Archers, The Chefs and the Food, The Chicks and the Worms, Keys to the Castle, The Charge of the Bulls and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: The Window Cleaner's Platform;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 P • Peniche ● ●
 GR • Katastari (Zakinthos)
 CH • Bellinzona
 NL • Hilversum
 H • Hajdúszoboszló
 I • Torre Annunziata
 F • Mâcon

88
81
69
64
63
53
50

The Games in Detail

Game 2 - Mississippi Paddle Boats

In Game 2 - 'Mississippi Paddle Boats' - teams had to row across the swimming pool aboard a Mississippi-style boat. Once at the other side, they had to use a seesaw to catapult packages over a high bar on to the boat, before finally working their way back. During this game, a Greek player was injured while jumping for the platform and had to quit early.

Additional Information

No non-standard games from this heat were included in those replayed in the 1998 International Final.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 8

Event Staged: Friday 17th July 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 24th August 1998 (8th)
MTV (H): Sunday 6th September 1998 (8th)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 12th September 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (8th)
RTP (P): Friday 25th September 1998, 11.55pm-1.45am (8th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 25th February 1999, 7.00pm (8th)

Teams: Val di Poschiavo (CH) v. Périgueux (F) v. Chios (GR) v.
Százhalombatta (H) v. Mondragone (I) v. De Marne (NL) v. Sintra (P)

Games: The Sugar Cubes, The Hens and their Eggs, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, Heading the Balls, Step Ladders and Buckets of Water, Hanging Snow White's Portrait, The Foxes and the Eggs, Swings and Trampolines, Human Curling, The Watering Flowers, The Chefs and the Food, Slide Baseball, Keys to the Castle, Horses and Platforms and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: The Maggots and the Apples;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 H • Százhalombatta ● ●
 CH • Val di Poschiavo ●
 I • Mondragone
 F • Périgueux
 GR • Chios
 P • Sintra
 NL • De Marne

91
78
69
62
56
52
51

The Games in Detail

Game 14 - Horses and Platforms

Game 14 - 'Horses and Platforms' - was a fairly straightforward game, in which each team had three male team members inside a horse costume. A female team mate was the rider, and she would mount the horse from the first of two platforms that the horse had to negotiate a way under. The rider would dismount at the second platform and get back on the horse once it had come out the other side of the platform. At the end of each lap, the rider had to ring a bell. Of course, the thing that seemed to pass without comment were the mutant six-legged variety of horses on display!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

Heat 9

Event Staged: Thursday 23rd July 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 31st August 1998 (9th)
MTV (H): Sunday 13th September 1998 (9th)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 19th September 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (9th)
RTP (P): Friday 2nd October 1998, 9.50-11.35pm (9th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 4th March 1999, 7.00pm (9th)

Teams: Val di Blénio (CH) v. Nevers (F) v. Tripoli (GR) v.
Budapest XII Kerület (H) v. Catanzaro (I) v. Roermond (NL) v. Mafra (P)

Games: Give a Dog a Bone, Inflatable Rings and Buoys, Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas, The Paint Brushes, The Birthday Cakes, The Tethered Goalkeepers, The Foxes and the Eggs, The Roller Skaters, The Skateboarding Dogs, Make-Your-Own Rowing Boats, The Chefs and the Food, Netting the Sticks, Keys to the Castle, The Hot Air Balloons and Rafting the Barrels;
Fil Rouge: The Trapeze Bars;
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th

 H • Budapest XII Kerület ●
 P • Mafra
 GR • Tripoli
 CH • Val di Blénio
 NL • Roermond
 I • Catanzaro
 F • Nevers

80
79
71
71
66
54
36

The Games in Detail

Fil Rouge - The Trapeze Bars

In the Fil Rouge - 'The Trapeze Bars' - four players (two men, two women) had two minutes to cross a row of trapeze bars, which were hanging over a pool. The two men of the Hungarian team had the foresight to take their national flag with them. When they had both of reached the last trapeze bar, they together waved the flag!

Presenters, Officials and Production Team

Hostesses for Italy, Switzerland and Portugal, Caterina Ruggeri and Maria João Silveira, as well as French referee Axel Escalle, all of whom were born on July 22nd, celebrated their birthday on the evening of this International Heat. Ironically one of the games was with candles on an enormous birthday cake. Coincidence?

Additional Information

Six of the nine International Heats produced qualifiers for the International Final. Only Heats 3, 5 and 9 did not and ironically, each of these was won by a team scoring 80 points.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1998

International Final

Event Staged: Thursday 6th August 1998
Venue: Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
France 2 (F): Monday 7th September 1998 (10th)
MTV (H): Sunday 20th September 1998 (10th)
RAI Uno (I): Saturday 26th September 1998, 8.45-11.00pm (10th)
RTP (P): Friday 9th October 1998, 9.50-11.40pm (10th)
TROS (NL): Thursday 11th March 1999, 7.00pm (10th)

Theme: The Most Beautiful Games

Teams: Val di Poschiavo (CH) v. La Clusaz (F) v. Komotini (GR) v.
Százhalombatta (H) v. Val Gardena Südtirol (I) v. Vlieland (NL) v. Peniche (P)

Games (and Source Heat): The Giant Waterbed (new), Giraffes and Leaves (1), Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas (standard), The Regatta (1), The Vacuum Cleaners (2), Merry-Go-Round Basketball (4), The Foxes and the Eggs (standard), Crows and Fruit Trees (5), Planting the Flag on the Moon (4), The Wall of Paint (5), The Chefs and the Food (standard), Make-Your-Own Rowing Boats (9), Keys to the Castle (standard), Slide Baseball (8) and Rafting the Barrels (standard);
Fil Rouge: The Trapeze Bars (9);
Jokers: A Jester's Hat Logo that would light up above the appropriate team station.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
5th
7th

 H • Százhalombatta ●
 GR • Komotini ●
 NL • Vlieland ●
 CH • Val di Poschiavo
 I • Val Gardena Südtirol
 F • La Clusaz
 P • Peniche

79
74
67
66
61
61
54

The Games in Detail

Game 1 - The Giant Waterbed

Game 1 - 'The Giant Waterbed' - was a spectacular opener for this International Final. As the only game that was not a repeat from the 1998 heats, it had to be impressive to justify its inclusion. In essence, it was simple: competitors would stack large inflatable rings and then jump from the top and grab for coloured plastic sheets hanging above their heads. What gave it a completely unique angle was the game was played out on a swimming pool that the organisers had covered with blue plastic sheeting. The competitors could run across it and it undulated wildly with each of their steps. A straightforward game with an added frisson of excitement and spectacle. The use of the over-pool sheeting would be seen again for several games in JSF 1999 Heat 5.

Game 15 - Rafting the Barrels

Game 15 - 'Rafting the Barrels' - saw the Portuguese team penalised for not stopping when one of their players dipped a leg into the water. They were relegated to last place on the game. Meanwhile, the Dutch team, who at first sight appeared to have finished the game in last place, were therefore raised to 6th place and the 4pts they received (rather than the 2pts for 7th and last place) was enough to lift them to 3rd place on the night rather than 4th.

Looks Familiar?

The games in this International Final were mostly repeats of games played in the heats. Only 'The Giant Waterbed' had not featured in one of the 1998 heats. All the others were either standard games ('Sumo Wrestlers and Geishas', 'The Foxes and the Eggs', 'The Chefs and the Food', 'Keys to the Castle' and 'Rafting the Barrels') or had been played previously in Heat 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 or 9 (see Games listing for details).

Additional Information

The Dutch team from Vlieland performed very well in this heat but fell at the last hurdle. They had been standing at the top of the leaderboard but ranked poorly on Game 15 which saw them fall down the final standings. This is of course not an uncommon happening, but it must have felt like history repeating itself to Dutch fans as in the previous year's International Final the exact same thing had happened to Netherlands' representatives from Heerlen!

At the end of every International Heat in the 1998 Jeux Sans Frontières, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams received an trophy - a gold, silver or bronze butterfly. However, the trophy awarded for 1st place in the International Final was a little different. This special trophy was a golden butterfly on a bed of velvet, set in a glass cube.

In March 2011, JSFnetGREECE presented an interview with Alexandros Ioannidis, competitor for the Greek team Komotini. It can be read by following this link - Alexandros Ioannidis interview.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

JSFnetGB Series Guide pages researched by
Neil Storer and Alan Hayes
with Ischa Bijl, Julien Dessy, Sébastien Dias, David Hamilton, Denis Kirsanov, Paul Leaver, Philippe Minet,
Christos Moustakas, David Laich Ruiz, Marko Voštan and JSFnet Websites