The sport of jai alai is part of the collective memory of those people living in Macao during the 1970s and 1980s, and who witnessed its overwhelming popularity at that time. The sport was imported to Macao in 1970s, and a “fronton” – a building that houses playing courts for jai alai – was constructed in 1974. Betting was permitted on the outcomes of such racquet games, making it a pioneering form of sports betting in Macao’s modern era.

The sport of jai alai is said to be a variation of Basque pelota, a sport originating from what is now known as the Basque Country, which encompasses parts of northern Spain and southwest France.

To play jai alai, a “pelota” and “cesta” are needed. The pelota, or ball, is about one-fourth the size of a softball. The cesta, or racquet, is a long, curved wicker scoop that is strapped to one of the arms of each player, allowing the person to hurl the ball at speed.

Jai alai is a racquetball-type game, involving bouncing a ball off a wall at high speeds with the help of the hand-controlled cesta.

The game is challenging and requires skill. Players catch and hurl the pelota against the front wall of a three-sided court, with tremendous power and speed.

The game is challenging and requires skill. Players catch and hurl the pelota against the front wall of a three-sided court, with tremendous power and speed.

In the early 1980s, Macao players often used a custom-made cesta, created mostly out of paper cartons. Nowadays, players often use cestas made from fibrous materials.

With the closing of the jai alai fronton in 1990, the Government built in 2012 a jai alai court at the Guia Hill Municipal Park’s multi-functional sports area.

Thanks to the Guia Hill facilities, jai alai devotees can gather to play the fast-paced game. In the middle of a game, there is also time to reminisce about the sport’s glory days.

Jai alai fans enjoy a game at the Guia Hill courts.