The idea was that the act of throwing a ball over a distance extended the arm muscles in a way that promoted strength and health at the same time.

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Its non-Italian operations have already tried to distance themselves from the arm that drew up the accounts for key Parmalat subsidiaries.

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But it has lots of weak businesses as well, including its declining consumer long-distance unit and its failed mobile-telecoms arm.

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Those without a strong throwing arm can enter the freestyle competition, during which the style and aesthetics of the throw are judged rather than the distance.

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