Petanque and boules are mounting a bid for inclusion on the Olympic programme at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

Claude Azéma, President of the World Confederation of Ball Sports (CMSB), has revealed that the budget for lobbying on behalf of boules and related sports to be included on the Olympic programme at Paris 2024 has to be increased.

"Since we formalised our candidacy in 2015, we spent a little more than €130,000 (£114,000/$160,000),” Azéma told French newspaper 20minutes.fr 

"Baseball, to go to Tokyo [2020], they put $500,000 (£350,000/€400,00) in the last year.

"The CMSB will therefore 'ramp up' this year, even if it means making a loan."

Azéma, a former member of the National Assembly, spent his winter vacation at Pyeongchang 2018 attempting to put the case to International Olympic Committee (IOC) members for petanque, with related sports raffa and Lyonnaise bowls, to become part of the Olympic Movement.

Claude Azéma, President of the CMSB, is planning to increase the budget to promote petanque and boules so it can make a proper bid for inclusion on the Olympic programme at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images
Claude Azéma, President of the CMSB, is planning to increase the budget to promote petanque and boules so it can make a proper bid for inclusion on the Olympic programme at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

"IOC members need to see us, to know who we are," he said.

"But without harassing them.

"At the [Winter Olympic] Games, I was everywhere: at the bar, at the restaurant, so that those who know me should introduce me to those I do not know yet."

Azéma is stressing that his sports are universal - 165 countries are represented -  mixed and clean.

Azéma, re-elected as President of the International Pétanque Federation in December, added: "It's medals insured for France, at least in petanque and Lyonnaise."