Jeux Sans Frontières returned for a second series since its return to TV with a change from 1988's line-up. Spain took a year out and were replaced by teams from San Marino. The practice of holding two heats in each venue continued, although this year, each of these second heats would feature different teams than those contesting the first. This meant the complicated aggregate scoring used to select the finalists in 1988 was dropped. The year ended with a two-part special edition, Jeux Sans Frontières: Games Under the Fir Tree.

There was another change to the scoring system this year, with double points awarded on the final game. This idea was introduced to enable teams that were trailing the leaders to improve their chances of achieving a better placing in the heats. This new innovation would remain throughout the next ten years of Jeux Sans Frontières. Each heat consisted of twelve games, and in the same context as last year, the International Final had an extra game (thirteen in total).

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Entrants 1989: Belgium (B) • France (F) • Italy (I)
Portugal (P) • San Marino (SM)

Presenters of International Heats:
Sylvie Rigot (B), Marie-Ange Nardi and Fabrice (F), Claudio Lippi (I), 
Eládio Clímaco and Ana do Carmo (P), Laura Fabi (SM)

International Referees: Guido Pancaldi and Mike Swann

Produced by RTBF (B), A2F (F), 
RAI UNO (I), RTP (P), RTVSM (SM)

 

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

1989-01

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 1

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 22nd July 1989
Recorded: Tuesday 6th June 1989
Recording Order: 1st
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Parco Pastore (Shepherd's Park), Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy

Theme: A Tour of Europe

Teams: Walcourt (B) v. Levallois-Perret (F) v. Recoaro Terme (I) v. Viseu (P) v. Mercatale (SM)

Games: ‘Tour de France’, ‘Dutch Potatoes’, ‘Belgian Beer for All’, ‘Spanish Bullfight’, ‘Brazilian Football’, ‘Italian Gondolas’, ‘American Frisbees’, ‘ The English Sailors’, ‘The Greek Spartans’, ‘Dedicated to Denmark’, ‘Cleaning Up’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th

 I • Recoaro Terme l
 B • Walcourt
 P • Viseu
 SM • Mercatale
 F • Levallois-Perret

48
46
45
45
35

Did You Know? Although Mercatale is the ancient name for Borgo Maggiore, the team decided to use the old name on this first occasion. In future editions, the team reverted to appearing under its modern-day name.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-02

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 2

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 29th July 1989
Recorded: Tuesday 20th June 1989
Recording Order: 3rd
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Convento de Cristo (Convent of the Order of Christ), Tomar, Portugal

Theme: Tomar and the Templiers

Teams: Rochefort (B) v. La Roche-sur-Yon (F) v. Riccione (I) v. Ilhas da Açores (P) v. Acquaviva (SM)

Games: ‘The Templiers’, ‘The Festivities’, ‘The Templiers Do Battle’, ‘Camping Out’, ‘Medieval Sport’, ‘The Championship’, ‘The Presenters’ Game’, ‘The Fishing Championship’, ‘Sack Race’, ‘The Rio Nabão Mill’, ‘The Forceful Templiers’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th

 P • Ilhas da Açores l l
 I • Riccione
 B • Rochefort
 F • La Roche-sur-Yon
 SM • Acquaviva

56
49
38
36
36

Did You Know? Portuguese team, Azores, won the first three games of this competition, in addition to three others later in the heat. This enabled them to lead from start to finish.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-03

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 3

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 5th August 1989
Recorded: Tuesday 4th July 1989
Recording Order: 5th
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Place Masséna (Masséna Square), Nice, France

Theme: The History of Nice

Teams: Huy (B) v. Nice [Equipe 1] (F) v. Castellana Grotte (I) v. Guimarães (P) v. Domagnano (SM)

Games: ‘The Countryside of Nice’, ‘The Nikaia’, ‘The Nicoise Salad’, ‘The Swimming Pool’, ‘King Albert I’s Garden’, ‘The Multiathlon’, ‘Bouquet of Alphonse Karr’, ‘The Archaeological Search’, ‘Sack Race’, ‘On Tour’, ‘The High Painters’ and ‘The Swimming Pool Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Guimarães l
 F • Nice [Equipe 1] l
 SM • Domagnano
 I • Castellana Grotte
 B • Huy

52
51
49
38
35

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-04

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 4

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 12th August 1989
Recorded: Tuesday 18th July 1989
Recording Order: 7th
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Parc des Expositions (Exposition Park), Heysel, Bruxelles/Brussel, Belgium

Theme: Children's Toys and Games

Teams: Bruxelles / Brussel [Equipe 1] (B) v. Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (F) v. Ercolano (I) v. Águeda (P) v. Fiorentino (SM)

Games: ‘The Hoops’, ‘The Ice-Cream Cones’, ‘The Teddy Bears’, ‘The Trampolines’, ‘The Jumping Sheep’, ‘The Cubes’, ‘Toy Soldiers and Marbles’, ‘The Floating Dominoes’, ‘Rolling the Dice’, ‘Sandcastles’, ‘The Babies’ Bottles’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Águeda l
 SM • Fiorentino
 B • Bruxelles / Brussel [Equipe 1]
 F • Saint-Amand-les-Eaux
 I • Ercolano

50
46
42
40
33

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-05

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 5

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 19th August 1989
Recorded: Saturday 10th June 1989
Recording Order: 2nd
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Parco Pastore (Shepherd's Park), Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy

Theme: Curiosities of Basse-Pedanie

Teams: Marche-en-Famenne (B) v. Bassin d'Arcachon / Gujan-Mestras (F) v. Castiglione delle Stiviere (I) v. Figueira da Foz (P) v. Serravalle (SM)

Games: ‘Skateboarding’, ‘Vestirello’, ‘Battle of the Courageous’, ‘The Garda Wines’, ‘The Bridges of the River Po’, ‘Jumping the Pies’, ‘The Presenters’ Game’, ‘Lombardian Activities’, ‘Restoring the Palace’, ‘The Pilota Race’, ‘Windsurfing’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 B • Marche-en-Famenne l l
 I • Castiglione delle Stiviere
 F • Bassin d'Arcachon / Gujan-Mestras
 P • Figueira da Foz
 SM • Serravalle

54
51
43
39
34

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-06

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 6

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 26th August 1989
Recorded: Saturday 24th June 1989
Recording Order: 4th
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Convento de Cristo (Convent of the Order of Christ), Tomar, Portugal

Dual Theme: The Order of Christ / Maritime Expansion

Teams: Visé (B) v. Suresnes (F) v. Brebbia (I) v. Tomar (P) v. Chiesanuova (SM)

Games: ‘The Navigating Prince’, ‘The Big Sailors’, ‘Fishing in the Rio Nabão’, ‘The Flight of the Olives’, ‘The Apples’, ‘Sport on the Lake’, ‘The Presenters’ Game’, ‘The Cherries’, ‘The Surprise’, ‘The Broken Balls’, ‘The Decorating Contest’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Tomar l
 I • Brebbia
 F • Suresnes
 B • Visé
 SM • Chiesanuova

48
44
43
40
38

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-07

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 7

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 2nd September 1989
Recorded: Saturday 8th July 1989
Recording Order: 6th
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Place Masséna (Masséna Square), Nice, France

Theme: Carnival!

Teams: Fleurus (B) v. Nice [Equipe 2] (F) v. Monte Argentario (I) v. Alto Minhõ (P) v. Faetano (SM)

Games: ‘The Donkey Race’, ‘Battle of the Confetti’, ‘The Pelota’, ‘King of the Carnival’, ‘Carnival Tennis’, ‘The Ratapignatats’, ‘Battle of the Flowers’, ‘Doormat Fools’, ‘The Ballerina’, ‘The Carnival Parade’, ‘The Carnival Dance’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
1st
3rd
4th
4th

 I • Monte Argentario l l
 SM • Faetano l l
 B • Fleurus
 F • Nice [Equipe 2]
 P • Alto Minhõ

48
48
43
37
37

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-08

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

Heat 8

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 9th September 1989
Recorded: Saturday 22nd July 1989
Recording Order: 8th
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Parc des Expositions (Exposition Park), Heysel, Bruxelles/Brussel, Belgium

Theme: The Circus

Teams: Bruxelles / Brussel [Equipe 2] (2) (B) v. Boulogne-Billancourt (F) v. Cefalú (Sicilia) (I) v. Ilha da Madeira (P) v. Montegiardino (SM)

Games: ‘Training the Horses’, ‘Feeding the Bears’, ‘The Escapologist’, ‘The Trapeze Artistes’, ‘The Magician’s Hat’, ‘The Fakirs’, ‘The Custard Pies’, ‘The Russian Weightlifters’, ‘The Surprise’, ‘The Clowns’ Noses’, ‘The Carousel’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

 P • Ilha da Madeira l
 F • Boulogne-Billancourt
 I • Cefalú (Sicilia)
 SM • Montegiardino
 B • Bruxelles / Brussel [Equipe 2]

56
48
45
38
32

Did You Know? Portuguese team, Madeira, almost became the first team to appear in three consecutive International Finals. The only thing that prevented them from doing so was the team of Azores. Both teams had 56 points with eight 1st placings on games, but Azores had one 2nd placing to Madeira's none.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-09

Jeux Sans Frontières 1989

International Final

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Saturday 16th September 1989
Recorded: Saturday 29th July 1989
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Jardim Santa Catarina (Saint Catarina Gardens), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Theme: The Discovery of Madeira

Teams: Marche-en-Famenne (B) v. Nice [Equipe 1] (F) v. Monte Argentario (I) v. Ilhas da Açores (P) v. Faetano (SM)

Games: ‘Arrival of the Teams’, ‘First Night in Madeira’, ‘The Palm Trees, ‘The Street Festival’, ‘Playing Golf’, ‘The Madeiran Bottles’, ‘The Madeiran Fruits’, ‘The Greedy Swimmers’, ‘Roulette Wheel’, ‘Miss Madeira Contest’, ‘The Madeiran Flowers’, ‘Brinquinhos’ and ‘The Musical Game’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th

 P • Ilhas da Açores l
 I • Monte Argentario l
 F • Nice [Equipe 1] l
 B • Marche-en-Famenne
 SM • Faetano

54
49
47
41
41

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

Jeux Sans Frontières: Games Under the Fir Tree 1989

Entrants Christmas 1989:
Italy (I) • San Marino (SM)

Presenters:
unknown

Produced by RAI UNO (I), RTVSM (SM)

1989-10

Jeux Sans Frontières:
Games Under the Fir Tree 1989

Programme One

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Sunday 24th December 1989 (Christmas Eve)
Recorded: Saturday 16th December 1989
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Palazzo de Ghiacco (Ice Palace), Alba di Canazei, Val di Fassa, Italy

Theme: The Arrival of Christmas

Teams: Recoaro Terme (I) v. Madesimo (I) v. Riccione (I) v. Brebbia (I) v. Castiglione delle Stiviere (I) Val di Fassa (I) v. San Marino (SM)

Games: ‘Collecting Stars’, ‘Collecting Wool’, ‘Sheep and Dogs’, ‘Laying the Crib’, ‘The Wise Men’, ‘Donkeys and Gold’, ‘Christmas Sacks’, ‘Wrapping the Presents’, ‘Stuffing the Bird’, ‘Laying the Table’, ‘Collecting Candles’ and ‘Hiding the Food’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 I • Riccione
 I • Castiglione delle Stiviere
 I • Recoaro Terme
 I • Brebbia
 I • Val di Fassa
 I • Madesimo
 SM • San Marino

60
59
56
44
43
41
34

Did You Know? This was a special two-heat invitation competition between the five best placed teams that did not qualify for the International Final, plus one team from the host town of Alba di Canazei (in the Val di Fassa) and another from San Marino. Unfortunately, Cefalù declined the invitation just four weeks before the competition, and a team from the ski resort of Madesimo (also in the Val di Fassa) was hastily put together to replace them.

The competition comprised of twelve games. The overall winner was decided by their aggregate placings over the two heats. Each heat winner scored 7 points, with 6 points for a second place finish - and so on, down to 1 point for the last placed team.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

1989-11

Jeux Sans Frontières:
Games Under the Fir Tree 1989

Programme Two

Rai Uno Transmission (Italy): Tuesday 26th December 1989 (Boxing Day)
Recorded: Sunday 17th December 1989
Not broadcast in Great Britain

Venue: Palazzo de Ghiacco (Ice Palace), Alba di Canazei, Val di Fassa, Italy

Theme: The Feast of San Silvestro

Teams: Recoaro Terme (I) v. Madesimo (I) v. Riccione (I) v. Brebbia (I) v. Castiglione delle Stiviere (I) Val di Fassa (I) v. San Marino (SM)

Games: ‘Dressing Up’, ‘Collecting Coins’, ‘Climbing the Poles’, ‘Musical Chairs’, ‘Horses and Carts’, ‘The Barbers’, ‘Bursting the Balloons’, ‘Grapes and Wine Bottles’, ‘The Feast’, ‘Cleaning the Mansion’, ‘Departing Guests’ and ‘’89 into ‘90’

Result:

 Team:

Points:

1st
1st
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 I • Recoaro Terme
 I • Val di Fassa
 I • Madesimo
 I • Castigliona delle Stiviere
 I • Riccione
 I • Brebbia
 SM • San Marino

55
55
53
52
51
41
32

The final overall rankings for the two heats was as follows:

Result:

 Team:

Points (Heat 1+2 = Total):

1st
2nd
2nd
2nd
5th
6th
7th

 I • Recoaro Terme
 I • Castigliona delle Stiviere
 I • Val di Fassa
 I • Riccione
 I • Madesimo
 I • Brebbia
 SM • San Marino

5 + 7 = 12
6 + 4 = 10
3 + 7 = 10
7 + 3 = 10
2 + 5 =   7
4 + 2 =   6
1 + 1 =   2

Made in Colour • This programme exists in European Archives

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