Boules is a sport covering many games similar to bowls and bocce, in which competitors throw or roll heavy balls as close as possible to a target ball. Boules-type games are traditional and popular in many European countries and are also popular in some former French colonies in Africa and Asia. They are often played in open spaces, such as town squares or parks. Boules events were contested at the 1900 Universal Exposition alongside the 1900 Olympic Games. The sport is governed by the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules (CMSB), which was formed from three previous organizations in December 1985 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October 1986.