DEL MAR — Bocce ball contests are being held all over the place and growing in popularity.

Will this sport eventually command a place in the world Olympics?

When Ken Reiley moved to the village from Illinois in 1953, he brought his wife Rose, two young children, Nancy and Jerry, and a box full of bocce balls.

These, he said, were imported from Italy where bocce games were reported to be the national sport.

To acquaint friends with this new game, Reiley would invite folks to his manse on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Among them would be Ed Thomas, city editor of the San Diego Union, Jack Cooper, its chief photographer, and local cohorts. After generous consumption of beverages and chatter the group would adjourn to the beach below 11th Street.

Reiley had no written rules.

As the game progressed Reiley would define them and they always appeared to favor him.

These became more confused due to the hot afternoon sun and the effects of adult libations.

An overall winner was okay if it happened to be Reiley. A negative decision meant he would pick up his bocce balls and go home vowing he would never again play with a bunch of cheaters. However, by the following weekend all would be forgotten and forgiven and the games resumed.

Nowadays there are hundreds of bocce teams and thousands of spectators. There are established rules. Officials of various descriptions oversee all aspects of the competition. Everyone has fun thanks to Reiley and his pals who introduced the bocce games to the area.