Five days of competition are planned at the Municipal Pavilion, including individual, pairs and team events.

Among the competitiors will be Britain's Rio 2016 BC1 Paralympic champion David Smith.

He will resume his rivalry with the Dutchman he beat to gold in Brazil, with Daniel Perez also making the journey to Portugal.

The pair are ranked number one and three in the world respectively, while Portugal's home hope António Marques, ranked fourth, will be seeking success in front of his own fans.

Portugal could win gold in the BC2 as Abílio Valente, the number four in the world, is the top ranked player.

In the BC3 class, Greece's Grigorios Polychronidis and Portugal's Jose Carlos Macedo, the silver and bronze medallists at Rio 2016 respectively, are expected to battle for top honours.

World number two Samuel Andrejcik of Slovakia is favourite for the BC4 title after winning silver in Rio.

Pairs and team competitions will begin the action tomorrow before individual tournaments take centre stage from Monday (October 30). 

A total of 112 athletes from 22 countries will compete in all.

"Skill and effort are essential to a good performance in boccia - these traits are very much treasured in Póvoa de Varzim, where you will find a hospitable people used to facing the hardships of the fisherman life," said Mário Lopes, President of the Portuguese Federation of Sport for People with Disabilities.

"I truly hope you feel their warmth and that the results obtained meet your objectives."