After six years in the wilderness, Jeux Sans Frontières returned to television screens in mainland Europe, with teams from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain participating. As a cost saving exercise, two heats featuring the same teams would be made back-to-back in one location, and each two back-to-back heats would be spread out through the series.

The scoring system saw major changes in this revival series. The number of games dramatically increased to twelve (and in the International Final it was increased to fourteen!), more than any other series in the past, and there were no Jokers or Fil Rouge for the first time in the programme’s history (excluding the 1965 and 1966 series). A new innovation to be introduced this year was that on the game that a team was scheduled to miss, it could elect to ‘match’ with any of the other four teams. This resulted in whatever score their ‘matched’ team scored, they also scored. This ‘election’ system was also used in the 1989 and 1994 series.

Just as one door opens with the return of Jeux Sans Frontières, another closes as the BBC transmit their last It's A Knockout, a lavish affair recorded at Walt Disney World in Florida in the United States of America.

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Entrants 1988: Belgium (B) • France (F) • Italy (I)
Portugal (P) • Spain (E)

Presenters of International Heats:
Marie-Ange Nardi and Fabrice (F),
Eládio Clímaco, Ivone Ferreira and José Fialho-Gouveia (P), Claudio Lippi (I),
Ignacio Salas, Guillermo Summers and Carmen Otero (E), Sylvie Rigot (B).

International Referees: Guido Pancaldi and Mike Swann

Produced by RTBF (B), A2F (F), 
RAI UNO (I), RTP (P), TVE (E)

 

Key: International Heats  l = Qualified for International Final / l = Heat Winner (Silver Trophy) International Final l = Gold Trophy   l = Silver Trophy   l = Bronze Trophy

1988-01

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 1

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 21st July 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Wednesday 25th May 1988 (Recorded as Heat 1)

Venue: Autodromo di Santa Monica (Santa Monica Autodrome), Misano Adriatico, Italy

Theme: Misano and the Adriatic Coast

Teams: Virton (B) v. Espace Cristal (F) v. Misano Adriatico (I) v. Ilha da Madeira (P) v. Gijón (E)

Games: ‘The Angry Sea’, ‘Water-Skiing’, ‘The Adriatic Gastronomes’, ‘The Flowered Riviera’, ‘The Playboys’, ‘Water-Ski Football’, ‘Long Live the Bicycle!’, ‘Sack Race’, ‘Fishing’, ‘The Friendship Game’, ‘Flies’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Ilha da Madeira l l
 I • Misano Adriatico
 B • Virton
 E • Gijón
 F • Espace Cristal

50
47
43
33
32

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-02

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 2

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 28th July 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Wednesday 8th June 1988 (Recorded as Heat 3)

Venue: Pentes de Ski (Ski Slopes), Les Saisies, France

Theme: Television Programmes

Teams: Pepinster (B) v. Les Saisies (F) v. Putignano (I) v. Vila Real-Mateus (P) v. Cartagena (E)

Games: ‘Interviewing the Stars’, ‘The Audimat’, ‘The Soccer Match’, ‘Scriptwriters’ Revenge’, ‘War of the Satellites’, ‘The Star Co-ordinator’, ‘Administration Barriers’, ‘Sack Race’, ‘The Big ‘Small’ Films’, ‘The Friendship Game’, ‘The Weather Forecast’ and ‘Building the 1000’.
Reserve Game: 'Slalom Race' (see Did You Know? below).

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Vila Real-Mateus l
 F • Les Saisies l
 E • Cartagena
 B • Pepinster
 I • Putignano

47
42
38
37
36

Did You Know? Due to mechanical failure, Game 11 was abandoned and a reserve game - ‘Slalom Race’ - was played after the final game.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-03

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 3

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 4th August 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Wednesday 22nd June 1988 (Recorded as Heat 5)

Venue: Parque de Basilica de Santa Luzia (Santa Luzia Basilica Park), Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Theme: History of Viana do Castelo – Garden City and Cradle of the Navigators

Teams: Ath (B) v. Le Beaufortin (F) v. Aosta-Pilaz (I) v. Viana do Castelo (P) v. La Coruña (E)

Games: ‘The Flower Rugs’, ‘The Cape of Good Hope’, ’The Lovers’, ‘The National Park’, ‘The Gastronomes’, ‘The Earthenware Industry’, ‘The Baskets of Vila Franca’, ‘The Drums’, ‘The Paper Industry’, ‘The Friendship Game’, ‘The 15th Century Caravels’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 I • Aosta-Pilaz l l
 P • Viana do Castelo
 F • Le Beaufortin
 B • Ath
 E • La Coruña

49
45
44
41
34

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-04

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 4

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 11th August 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Wednesday 6th July 1988 (Recorded as Heat 7)

Venue: Parque del Alamillo (Alamillo Park), Sevilla, Spain

Theme: Departing for 'The New World'

Teams: Profondeville (B) v. Brides-les-Bains (F) v. Palinuro (I) v. Ilhas da Açores (P) v. Sevilla (E)

Games: ‘Naming the Ship’, ‘All Aboard!’, ‘Loading the Provisions’, ‘The Flower Clocks’, ‘A Peaceful Voyage’, ‘The Andalucian Meals’, ‘No Rats on Board’, ‘The Castanets’, ‘The Castujinos Horses’, ‘The Treasure Chest’, ‘The Sailors’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 B • Profondeville l l
 P • Ilhas da Açores
 E • Sevilla l
 I • Palinuro
 F • Brides-les-Bains

46
45
35
34
32

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-05

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 5

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 18th August 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Saturday 28th May 1988 (Recorded as Heat 2)

Venue: Autodromo di Santa Monica (Santa Monica Autodrome), Misano Adriatico, Italy

Theme: Misano and the Adriatic Coast

Teams: Virton (B) v. Espace Cristal (F) v. Misano Adriatico (I) v. Ilha da Madeira (P) v. Gijón (E)

Games: ‘Water-Skiing’, ‘The Discotheque’, ‘The Gita’, ‘Saving the Tourists’, ‘Love and Sport’, ‘The Bicycles’, 'Mathematical Calculator', ‘Hosing the Bathers’, ‘Prudence’, ‘The Appetite’, ‘The Delta-Plane’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Ilha da Madeira l l
 I • Misano Adriatico
 B • Virton
 F • Espace Cristal
 E • Gijón

47
45
43
35
34

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-06

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 6

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 25th August 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Saturday 11th June 1988 (Recorded as Heat 4)

Venue: Pentes de Ski (Ski Slopes), Les Saisies, France

Theme: The Olympic Games

Teams: Pepinster (B) v. Les Saisies (F) v. Putignano (I) v. Vila Real-Mateus (P) v. Cartagena (E)

Games: ‘The Flame Relay’, ‘The Siamese Giants’, ‘Water Basketball’, ‘The Captains’ Food’, ‘The Slalom’, ‘Climbing the Summits’, ‘The Chocolate Medals’, ‘Drug Testing’, ‘High Altitude Balloon’, ‘The Roped Party’, ‘The Snowballs’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 B • Pepinster l
 F • Les Saisies l
 P • Vila Real-Mateus
 E • Cartagena
 I • Putignano

48
44
39
36
35

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-07

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 7

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 1st September 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Saturday 25th June 1988 (Recorded as Heat 6)

Venue: Parque de Basilica de Santa Luzia (Santa Luzia Basilica Park), Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Theme: History of Viana do Castelo – Garden City and Cradle of the Navigators

Teams: Ath (B) v. Le Beaufortin (F) v. Aosta-Pilaz (I) v. Viana do Castelo (P) v. La Coruña (E)

Games: ‘The Sargassiers’, ‘The Brazilian Coast’, ‘The Red Corn’, ‘Fishing’, ‘The Naval Dockyards’, ‘The Forests of Viana’, ‘The Pollution of Penada’, ‘The Vira’, ‘The Gardens of Viana’, ‘The Friendship Game’, ‘The Green Wine’ and ‘Building the 1000'

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 B • Ath l
 I • Aosta-Pilaz l
 F • Le Beaufortin
 P • Viana do Castelo
 E • La Coruña

47
44
40
39
28

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-08

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

Heat 8

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 8th September 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Saturday 9th July 1988 (Recorded as Heat 8)

Venue: Parque del Alamillo (Alamillo Park), Sevilla, Spain

Theme: The Colonisation of 'The New World'

Teams: Profondeville (B) v. Brides-les-Bains (F) v. Palinuro (I) v. Ilhas da Açores (P) v. Sevilla (E)

Games: ‘Return to the Harbour’, ‘The Bells of The Girada’, ‘The Exotic Plants’, ‘Gifts of the New World’, ‘The Limbo Dance’, ‘Return to the House’, ‘The American Fruit’, ‘The Giant Castanets’, ‘The Final Gift’, ‘Marie-Louise Park’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 B • Profondeville l l
 P • Ilhas da Açores
 E • Sevilla l
 F • Brides-les-Bains
 I • Palinuro

47
46
41
37
36

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1988-09

Jeux Sans Frontières 1988

International Final

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Thursday 15th September 1988
Not broadcast in Great Britain
Recorded: Saturday 23rd July 1988

Venue: Riva di Como di Lago (Shore of Lake Como), Bellagio, Italy

Theme: The Cinema

Teams: Profondeville (B) v. Les Saisies (F) v. Aosta-Pilaz (I) v. Ilha da Madeira (P) v. Sevilla (E)

Games: ‘The Bathing Beauties’, ‘The Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Tom-Mix’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Dracula’, ‘The Chariot Horse Race’, ‘The Fourteenth Hour’, ‘The Friendship Game’, ‘The Wages of Fear’, ‘Polythene’, ‘Suzie Wong’, ‘Alien’, ‘Thunderball’ and ‘Building the 1000’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
2nd
4th
5th

 P • Ilha da Madeira l
 B • Profondeville l
 E • Sevilla l
 F • Les Saisies l
 I • Aosta-Pilaz

49
47
47
46
36

Did You Know? Before the final game, just one point separated the top four teams - and with just three points separating the first four teams after the final game, this International Final ended as the closest finish ever!

Did You Also Know? The Portuguese team of Ilha da Madeira, became the third team to appear in consecutive International Finals, albeit six years after their first appearance due to the hiatus between the 1982 and 1988 finals.

Did You Also Know? An extra two games (making a total of fourteen) were played in this International Final.

Did You Also Know? As in the 1981 International Final where there had also been a tied placing in the top three positions, it was decided that the bronze trophy would be awarded to the 4th placed team. This resulted in the Italians of Aosta-Pilaz being the only team competing in this International Final who were not to receive a trophy for their troubles.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

It’s A Charity Knockout from Walt Disney World 1988

Entrants 1988: Australia (AU) • Great Britain (GB) • United States of America (USA)

Presenters: Stuart Hall (GB); Bill Rafferty (USA); Billy J. Smith (Australia)

Referee: Curley Neal from the Harlem Globetrotters

Closing and Incidental Music: Glen Gettings and Peter Moss
VT Editors: Julius Johnson and Paul Williams 
Games Designer: Stuart Furber / Executive Producer: Alan Walsh
Production Team: Jem Kime, Gerry Nyland, Rosie Billson and Karen Howes
Director: John Rooney

Produced by BBC North West (GB) in association with Buena Vista International inc.

1988-10

It’s A Charity Knockout from 
Walt Disney World 1988

Christmas Special

BBC1 Transmission: Sunday 25th December 1988, 12.05-1.00pm (Christmas Day)
Recorded: Saturday 5th November 1988

Venue: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States of America
Musical Interludes by: “Louie, Louie” by The Fat Boys; “We Play Machines” by Toyah; “Mr. Sandman” by The Dapper Dans (barbershop quartet)

Dual Theme: Sponsored Games / American Life

Teams: Australia v. Great Britain v. United States of America

Team Members included:
Australia - Joe Bugner, Chantal Contouri, Evonne Goolagong, Rolf Harris,
George Lazenby, Dina Panozzo, Billy J. Smith

Great Britain - Jenny Agutter, Bernie Clifton, Annabel Croft, Sarah Douglas,
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, Judy Geeson, David Gower (Team Captain),
Stuart Hall, Lloyd Honeyghan, Toyah Willcox

United States of America - The Dapper Dans, The Fat Boys, Gil Gerard,
Terri-Ann Linn, Meatloaf, Carrie Mitchum, Joey Perrone,
Bill Rafferty, Gene Anthony Ray, Richard Roundtree

The Games: Vauxhall Motors Sedan Chair Race; The Party; Delta Air Lines Treasure Trove; Crocodile Run; The Waiters’ Waltz; Space Shot; Moon Walk; Run Up the Flag

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
1st
3rd

 Great Britain
 Australia
 United States of America

18
18
16

Did You Know? All participants in this event gave their fees to charity and the event as a whole was staged to raise funds for the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal.

Did You Also Know? Teams played in colours (Australia - Yellow; Great Britain - Red; United States of America - Dark Blue), but did not have any tabards with letters (i.e. 'GB'). As the teams played as nations rather than as towns representing nations, we have elected not to include national abbreviations in the results window above.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

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