Our ambitions
New Collective Racket Sport "A French Creation
Soccer, rugby, basketball, handball... The origins of all these sports can often be traced back to a man or a group practice.
A NEW SPORT BY CHRIS OVEN
Soccer, rugby, basketball, handball... The origins of all these sports can be traced back to
one man or a group practice.
It was from these extraordinary inventors that the sports we all know today were born, uniting millions of people around the world.
When you think about it, the genesis is often the same.
Soccer was invented around 1860 on British lawns by London's upper class, who wanted to make it an elitist sport played only by the wealthiest.
In 1891, a Massachusetts sports education teacher invented basketball to keep his students fit during the winter.
In 1898, it was the " haandbold " that, according to some historians, first appeared on a small field in Denmark.
They'll all come up with the idea that will change their lives, without thinking that it will also change the lives of millions of people. All will surround themselves with an incredible team. They'll think, they'll maneuver. Then, from their little laboratory, rules, players, clubs, licensees, federations, sporting goods manufacturers and an ever-growing economic market will emerge...
CONSUMERS IN SEARCH OF NOVELTIES
As with travel or work, today's sports enthusiast is not the same as yesterday. They evolve every year, according to their expectations and needs.
A number of recent studies have revealed certain trends:
- Starting with the notion of healthy sport, which offers a real alternative to sedentary habits.
- Secondly, new sports enthusiasts want us to adapt to them, to their pace of life, and not the other way round (flexibility of practice, schedules, setting, format...).
- Last but not least, there's an attraction for new practices, with a preference for more playful sports that can be enjoyed outdoors, close to nature.
This is known as informal sport.
Timeline raqball
CHRIS OVEN INVENTS RAQBALL
BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF RAQBALL
It all began in Mougins, France, with Christophe Ouensou aka " Chris Oven ". A sculptor, painter and visual artist, this sports enthusiast with an ebullient spirit stands out in the creative world. A man transcended by innovation and driven by sports, he is constantly on the lookout for new materials, new activities and new pleasures.
Chris Oven imagines a sport in which two teams play with a racket in their hands and a ball. They interact individually or collectively, passing or dribbling, in order to hit a target with a shot.
A new collective racket sport is born.
THE DESIGNER SETS THE FIRST RULES. NUMEROUS EVENTS ARE ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT FRANCE.
A very encouraging test phase
Over a period of several years, the creator designed his equipment and perfected his sporting innovation. The first rules were established and the game took shape.
RAQBALL is introduced in France in April 2013, in Valbonne Sophia Antipolis (06). This marks the start of a series of events that will be rolled out across France.
Aware of the importance of surrounding himself with the right people, Chris Oven put together a team to support him in the development of RAQBALL.
In 2015, RAQBALL found itself featured in the " L'expresso " program on beIN SPORTS with Gérard Houllier.
CREATION OF THE START-UP RZBALL COMPANY, RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO PLAY RAQBALL
Team building and structure
Although he has always followed Chris Oven's project from a distance, it was in 2016 that Lems Lehmann joined the team to give RAQBALL a new dimension.
The entrepreneur will structure the project and build a solid team
with a wide range of backgrounds: former top-level athletes, business leaders, PE teachers and engineers.
With their different experiences and multiple skills, the main players in this core group will devise and elaborate a complete structure for the development of this new sport.
For several years, with the support of BPI France, the Région Sud Provence Alpes Côte-d'Azur and the European Investment Fund, the RAQBALL team worked with passion, expanding its know-how and skills. New talents joined the initial team and contributed their talents to the fine edifice under construction.
CREATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RAQBALL FEDERATION (I.R.B.F.), IN BRUSSELS.
The aims of the association are to organize, manage, develop and promote the sport of RAQBALL, and to establish the rules of the game, both nationally and internationally.
It governs and regulates RAQBALL, and recognizes continental/national federations and associations through their affiliations.
The first official RAQBALL regulations are filed with the Federal Court of Justice in Brussels (Belgium).
CREATION OF THE FIRST NATIONAL RAQBALL ASSOCIATION IN VALBONNE SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS (06), THE ASSOCIATION FRANÇAISE DE RAQBALL (A.F.R.B), MEMBER OF THE I.R.B.F.
A.F.R.B aims to organize, encourage and develop future RAQBALL competitions and clubs, in all its forms.