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Home , Anette Norberg, Ann Swisshelm, World Curling Federation

PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER

May 2015 Welcome

Inside this issue:

World 2-4 Championships Roundup men and women, World Champions 2015 Photos: WCF/Michael Burns & WCF/Richard Gray Other News 4-5 Since my last newsletter in December, eight World Champions have been crowned following what has been one of the most exciting and successful curling seasons to date. Commissions 6 Our events have taken us around the world over the past few months, from the World Development 6-9 Championship in Lohja, , to the World Junior Curling Champion- ships 2015 - the first major international curling event hosted by , in the city of Tallinn. Media 9 Then it was off to for what was one of the highlights of the season, with the city of Sap- MA News 10-12 poro hosting the ZEN NOH World Women’s Curling Championship.

Event Bidding 13 Next was Halifax, , for the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship before returning to continue the legacy of the Sochi Olympic venues, with both the World Mixed Doubles Event Calendar 14 Curling Championship and the World Senior Curling Championships taking place there in April. Several hosts for forthcoming events have also been announced while the WCF’s Competi- tions and Development team have been busy in locations around the world. Special points of I hope you enjoy reading this latest newsletter and remember, you can read more about each interest: story by clicking on the headline.  Hall of Fame inductees ( p4) Event Hosts

 Portable Curling Facility We confirmed two more pionships, we confirmed that that Karlstad, Sweden, will (p4) World Championships will Erzurum, , will host welcome the world of curling take place in Switzerland. the Word Juniors in 2016 back to their town with the  WCF’s New Office (p5) between 5-13 March. Berne shall host the inaugural World Mixed Doubles and  Olympic Celebration World Mixed Curling Cham- During our events in Sochi, World Senior Curling Cham- Tour update (p8) pionship from 12-19 Septem- we announced that Kazakh- pionships 2016 being held  gets ice (p10) ber 2015 while Lucerne has stan will host its first interna- between 16-23 April.

launch schools been chosen to host the tional curling event, with the More information about programme (p11) World Wheelchair Curling Pacific-Asia Curling Champi- hosting our events can be Championship 2016 between onships 2015 taking place in found on page 13.  Deadlines (p14) 22-28 February. Almaty between 7-14 No-  President’s Roundup vember. At the conclusion of the (p15) World Junior Curling Cham- In Sochi, we also confirmed Page 2 EVENTS May 2015 Newsletter Ford World Men’s Curling Championship 2015 Atlantic Canada played host to this season’s Ford World Men’s Canada, all of our sponsors - especially Ford of Canada, and of Curling Championship as Halifax, Nova Scotia, welcomed the course - the hundreds of volunteers who were central to the top 12 men’s curling teams from around the world. success of the event. Congratulations to Sweden on winning this Championship, and With this edition over, work is already underway for the next especially to who captured his second world World Men’s Championship. The event returns to Basel, Swit- title, this time with a new team. zerland, in 2016 and will take place in St Jakobshalle once again between 2-10 April. Congratulations also go to silver medallist’s . Skip and his team set an example for the spirit of curling throughout the event. Bronze medallists Canada and the other teams that qualified put on a fantastic show for spec- tators in the stands and fans watching worldwide, with some exceptional curling played. Japan’s Yusuke Morozumi won the Collie Campbell sportsman- ship award, as voted on by fellow athletes. Total attendance for the week was over 65,000. Fans experi- enced a really great Championship, from the curling and enter- tainment on offer to the unique and warm Nova Scotian hospi- tality. I’m sure everyone who visited Halifax during the Champion- ship will have had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thanks must go to the local organising committee, our partner Curling

Sweden, World Men’s Curling Champions 2015 Photo: WCF/Michael Burns

ZEN-NOH World Women’s Curling Championship 2015 Congratulations to Switzerland women who won the ZEN- This time around though, gold medallists Switzerland were rep- NOH World Women’s Curling Championship 2015 in Sapporo, resented by a team skipped by Alina Paetz. Japan. This was the third consecutive major international curling Congratulations to the other medal winners: Canada who championship title for Swiss women’s curling after Binia Felt- picked up silver and who won bronze, both nations repli- scher’s team won the world title last year and went on to win cating their podium positions from last year. gold at the Le Gruyère European Curling Championships 2014. Finnish Skip Sanna Puustinen won the Frances Brodie Sports- manship award. The local organising committee must be thanked for their tire- less work in delivering a thoroughly memorable event. I would also like to thank all our sponsors, especially our title sponsor ZEN-NOH for the support they have given our sport not only in Japan, but now worldwide following this event. Thanks to the 600 volunteers who gave their time to ensure the smooth running of the event and our time in Sapporo. We now look forward to returning to Swift Current, Saskatch- ewan, Canada for the Ford World Women’s Curling Champi- onship 2016 between 19-27 March.

Switzerland, World Women’s Curling Champions 2015 Photos: WCF/Richard Gray May 2015 Newsletter EVENTS Page 3 World Junior Curling Championships 2015 Estonia held its first major international These Championships also concluded the curling event as it hosted the World Jun- qualification period for the Lillehammer ior Curling Championships 2015 in their 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games (12- capital city, Tallinn. 21 February), with the following 16 na- Congratulations to Canada who made it tions now qualified: www.worldcurling.org/ youth-olympic-games-qualification-update double gold as their junior men’s and women’s teams won both competitions. In January, ’s junior women and Russia’s junior men qualified for the Jun- In the men’s championship, Switzerland iors from the European Junior Curling took silver while won the Challenge 2015 in Prague, Czech Re- bronze medals. In the women’s event, public. Korea’s junior men and women Scotland picked up silver and Switzerland secured both Worlds spots at the Pacific won bronze. -Asia Junior Curling Championships I would like to thank the local organising 2015 in Naseby, . These committee and the Estonian Curling As- were the last editions of these two quali- sociation for staging such a great event. fication events as we move towards the Erzurum in Turkey will host the World World Junior B Curling Championships Junior Curling Championships 2016 be- which will take place in Lohja, Finland

tween 5-13 February. from 3-9 January 2016. Canada men and women, World Junior Curling Cham- pions 2015 Photo: WCF/Richard Gray

World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2015 In April, we returned to the host of the Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games 2014 - Sochi, Russia, for the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2015, a key event as part of the Ice Cube Curling Centre’s ongoing legacy programme in the Olympic Park. Congratulations to who won their second World Mixed Doubles Curling Champi- onship title. They defeated Sweden in the final, who picked up silver, while Norway won their first Mixed Doubles medals winning the bronze game.

Hungary, World Mixed Doubles Curling Champions At the conclusion of this event, it was announced that the World Mixed Doubles and World 2015 Photo: WCF/Alina Pavlyuchik Senior Curling Championships 2016 be held in Karlstad, Sweden between 16-23 April.

World Senior Curling Championships 2015 This event was held in the Iceberg took silver, their first ever medal in Skating Palace Training Venue, used this Championship and USA won in the Sochi 2014 Olympics by figure bronze. skaters to practice and warm-up. The local organising committee de- This rink was transformed into an livered two fantastic events. By in outstanding curling arena for the large thanks to their volunteers, week, which witnessed USA men many of whom returned after work- and Canada women pick up the ing at the Olympics and Paralympics 2015 World Senior titles. last year. Well done to them and all of the I must also thank the Russian Curl- other medal winners. In the men’s ing Federation and their event part- championship, Canada took silver ners who helped put on both of the while New Zealand won bronze. In events, by far the largest operation USA men and Canada women, World Senior Curing Champions 2015 the women’s championship, of the curling season. Photo: WCF/Celine Stucki Page 4 EVENTS May 2015 Newsletter World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2015

Lohja in Finland put on yet another outstanding curling event as it welcomed the world’s 10 best wheelchair curling teams. Congratulations to Russia whose team won their second World Wheelchair Curling Championship title. They defeated , who finished in their highest ever position at the Championship, taking silver, while hosts Finland collected their first ever World Wheelchair Curling Championship medal as they won bronze. Finland had a further reason to celebrate when Mina Mojtahedi won the Sportsmanship Award. Once again, Lohja and the Kisakallio Sports Institute were exceptional hosts. We look forward to returning there for the World Wheelchair B Curling Championship between 7-12 November 2015.

Next year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championship will be Russia, World Wheelchair Curling Champions 2015

held in Lucerne, Switzerland between 21-28 February 2016. Photo: WCF/Alina Pavlyuchik

World Curling Hall of Fame Inductees OTHER NEWS We were delighted to induct three outstanding ambassa- dors of our sport into the World Curling Hall of Fame this season - Canada’s and Ray Turnbull, and Japan’s Hiroyuki Saito, along with Canada’s who had waited since last year’s announcement to receive this honour in his home country. All four individuals have been hugely influential in our sport both on and off the ice. Their endeavours have not only inspired generations of curlers but more importantly helped develop our sport considerably around the world. Their dedication to curling Photo: WCF/Michael Burns is reflected by this honour which recognises their remarka- ble achievements in our sport. (Left) L-R: Canada’s Russ Howard, Randy Ferbey and Ray Turnbull. (Right): Japan’s Hi- royuki Sato and WCF President Kate Caithness Photo: WCF/Richard Gray

Portable Curling Facility Programme In April we announced that the Finnish Curl- this trial, with bids coming in from , ing Association has been selected to trial the , , Finland, , New Zealand, WCF’s first Portable Curling Facility. Norway, , , USA and . The initiative will see the WCF provide Cop- The initiative was developed following advanc- perHill Curling Club in Turku with a two es in technology and equipment that have sheet Portable Curling Facility (PCF), created seen examples of curling clubs that are suc- within an insulated structure. cessfully operating in insulated tents. We are delighted to trial this in Turku and are It is hoped that these portable facilities could excited to see the benefits it can bring to the be the stepping-stone for WCF MAs to pro- sport. We are confident that Finland can make gress from the shared arena environment with this initiative work and will look to expand other ice sports, to dedicated curling facilities, and develop the programme over the coming without the huge financial investment required An insulated construction, similar to this years for other Member Associations (MAs). for a traditional dedicated building. one, will be built in Turku, Finland 16 projects worldwide were considered for Photo: OB Wiik Page 5 May 2015 Newsletter Mixed Doubles Olympic Bid Over the past year, we have been working to convince the Interna- tional Olympic Committee (IOC) to accept the discipline of Mixed Doubles curling as an additional event at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olym- pic Winter Games. I was delighted to be able host IOC President Thomas Bach, accompa- nied by President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhu- kov, at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2015 in So- chi. This gave President Bach the opportunity to see first-hand what an exciting addition Mixed Doubles curling could be to the Olympic programme. A decision on whether or not Mixed Doubles Curling will become part of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games pro- IOC President Thomas Bach visited the World Mixed Doubles Curling Cham- gramme is expected to be made at the IOC Executive Board meeting pionship 2015 whilst in Sochi, Russia Photo: WCF/Alina Pavlyuchik scheduled for June in Lausanne, Switzerland. Nadia Röthlisberger-Raspe With great sadness, curling lost another member of the family as Nadia Röthlis- berger-Raspe passed away in February after a short fight with cancer. She was 42. The highlight of Nadia’s curling career was her silver medal at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games where she played for Swiss skip Luzia Ebnö- ther. She also picked up silver medals at the 2000 World Women’s Curling Champi- onship in Glasgow, Scotland, and at the European Championships in 2003 in Courmayeur, Italy. She was also well known within the wheelchair curling family as she had coached the Swiss team over the years. Nadia was wife of Ice Technician Stefan, mother of their two children and sis- ter-in-law to WCF Competitions & Development Officer Eeva Röthlisberger. Whilst we remember her triumphs on the ice, our thoughts remain with her family and friends at what must be an extremely difficult time for them all. Nadia Röthlisberger-Raspe (1972-2015) Photo: Keystone

New WCF Office At the end of April, we officially took up residence in our new WCF Sec- retariat office. We have spent the last few weeks settling in. While we have remained in Perth, Scotland, our new premises are much bigger and have been purchased with a view to accommodating our grow- ing number of staff whilst also including storage facilities in-house rather than off-site. Please feel free to visit us whenever you are in Scotland. Please note our new address is: 3 Atholl Crescent Perth PH1 5NG Scotland, UK. Page 6 COMMISSIONS May 2015 Newsletter Athlete Commission Over the past few months the Athlete that the Commission has been doing, but Commission has been busy, both at our also trying to get a better understanding events and behind the scenes. of some of the issues that athletes would Members of the Commission have been like addressed and ways to improve the undertaking surveys with athletes at this sport in the future. season’s World Championships, sourcing The Athlete Commission have also been opinion on a variety of different matters working behind the scenes, finalising a with a view to using such information to database to form the basis of future Ath- develop further changes to our sport. lete Commission elections, with a view to Throughout this process the Commission making them more transparent. has been in regular dialogue with athletes, If you would like to contact the Athlete USA’s , Skip of the WCF’s Athlete Commission Photo: WCF/Richard Gray not only making them aware of the work Commission, email: [email protected]

Governance & Finance Commissions Over the past few months, the The Finance Commission Governance Commission members are Dieter Kolb has been working on the (GER), Marcus Schmitt (AUT), WCF’s Code of Conduct Poli- John Anderson (AUS - newly cies and our Conflict of Inter- appointed in March) and Board est Policy, which have been Member Andy Anderson as approved by the WCF Board. Chair. WCF Board Member Andy Anderson, The Governance Commission WCF Board Member Laura Lochanski, In early March, the committee Chair of the Governance Commission Chair of the Finance Commission is continuing to work on Hos- Photo: WCF/Richard Gray vetted the proposed manage- Photo: WCF/Richard Gray pitality and Gifting policies and ment prepared budget for 2015-2016, and the Pro Forma budg- guidelines whilst it has also been looking at the following Terms et projections for the following three years, providing com- of Reference for Commissions (which have been approved by ments to the Board prior to its action to approve the budget. the WCF Board): Governance Commission; Athlete Commis- The Chair, working with the Secretary General, has moved sion; European Zonal Commission; Finance Commission; Rules forward to the implementation of a second Investment Advisor, and Competition Commission; Pacific-Asia Zonal Commission. as recommended by the Commission and it is expected that the In addition to the above, they are currently working on Terms account will be established with the Royal Bank of Canada and Reference for the Americas Zonal Commission; the Hall of (RBC) by the end of May. RBC, along with JP Morgan, will be Fame Commission and the Definition of a registered curler with advising us on the best investment strategies for our excess regards to data being gathered. funds with the main objective of preserving capital with minimal risk.

Elite Coaches Symposium DEVELOPMENT The WCF will run an Elite Coaches Symposium in Östersund, Sweden between 14-16 August 2015. MAs wishing to participate are requested to nominate one high perfor- mance coach from their Association who they feel will benefit from interacting with and sharing information with other top coaches from around the world. The group will discuss how to minimise any negative side effects of high performance curling on grassroots curling development, such as breaking up teams by the selection process, focusing only on top performers, etc. Ideas and methods on how to become a better coach, proposals for how to improve WCF championships as well as any issues that coaches face will also be discussed. For more information or to book your place, The Elite Coach Symposium will provide coaches please contact WCF Director of Competitions & Development, , via with a unique opportunity to learn from one another [email protected] Photo: WCF/Richard Gray May 2015 Newsletter Page 7

Development Assistance Programme (DAP)

The DAP application deadline for the 2014-2015 programme was on 30 April 2015. Please remember that all approved projects have to be complet- ed by 31 May and all claims sent to the WCF no later than 15 June. We have approved a total of $396,000 USD of funding this season—slightly more than previous years. A total of 40 MAs have applied for money, with 114 projects approved. Projects include: repayment of stone and scraper contracts; participation in and organisation of camps and courses; equipment purchase; production of promotional materials (brochures, videos etc); come and try sessions and Olympic Celebration Tour events; accessibility equipment and training days for schools and juniors. It’s great to see that there are more and more activities happening all around the world aimed at promoting and developing curling. For more in- formation about DAP, please contact Eeva: The Curling Association used DAP money to organise a [email protected] training course in Karuizawa, Japan Photo: HKCA

Camps & Courses Whilst our Team Camp in Camp which will take place in Sweetlake, is Prague, , be- booked out, there are still a tween 23-27 August 2015. few spaces available on some Why not come along and of our Fuessen Camps & ‘brush-up’ your curling skills Courses (Ice Technician before the start of the next course is full). To apply, season? The deadline for reg- please contact i n - istrations is 15 July. [email protected] immedi- ately to confirm your inter- Full details about the camp est. please visit http://wcf-camps- courses.com There are still a few places available on our Fuessen Camps & Courses. Get in touch There are also some spaces with the WCF now so you don’t miss out! Photo: WCF left at the Adult Curling

Curling Equipment Programme (CEP)

The Curling Equipment Programme, in partnership with Goldine and BalancePlus, continues to be successful with equipment provided to our WCF Camps and Courses in Fuessen, , Sweetlake, Netherlands and Prague, Czech Republic. As well, this season we have also supplied equipment to clinics hosted by MAs in Hong Kong, Japan, and England. For additional information about this programme visit www.worldcurling.org/curling-equipment-programme-cep Some young English curlers received equipment through the WCF’s Curling Equipment or contact [email protected] Programme Photo: WCF Page 8 May 2015 Newsletter Olympic Celebration Tour (OCT) Since December, we have held four OCT stops, inspiring hundreds of new and experienced curlers on the way. Portland, USA, held one at Evergreen Curling Club be- tween 23-25 January 2015 with Sweden’s 2014 Olympic bronze medallist Viktor Kjaell. On the same weekend, Charlotte Curling Association held another Tour stop with 2006 Olympic gold medallist from Canada, . It then stopped off at Coyotes Curling Club in Arizona, USA, between 21-22 February with Canadian 2010 Olympic silver medallist Carolyn McRorie. Sochi 2014 Olympic gold medallist, from Canada, then attended tour stops in both Karuizawa and Niigata, Japan between 18-26 April. For additional infor- mation about this programme visit www.worldcurling.org/ olympic-celebration-tour or contact [email protected] Sochi 2014 Olympic gold medallist from Canada, Kaitlyn Lawes (in red, left), visited Japan in April as part of the WCF’s Olympic Celebration Tour Photo: WCF

Business of Curling The WCF, in partnership with USA Curling and the Evergreen Curling Club is hosting the first WCF Business of Curling Symposium in the USA between 27-28 June. Facilitators will guide participants in an interactive series of discussions, idea sharing and success stories. Anyone affiliated with a USA Curling member club or a WCF MA is invited to attend. Registration will be capped around 25 participants in order to allow for small group discussions. Registration will remain open until 12 June or until the maximum number of participants has been reached. Register here: https://usacurling.wufoo.com/forms/wcf-business-of-curling-symposium-registration If you are interested in hosting a Business of Curling Symposium or for additional information about this programme contact: [email protected]

Coach Mentoring Programme The final WCF Coach Mentoring Programme for the 2014-15 season was held in Halifax, Canada, at the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship. Ken Bagnell was once again on hand and was assisted by 2014 Olympic gold medal winning coach Tom Coulterman from Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs. Sixteen participants enjoyed three sessions of play as well as two full days of learning. This was an experience they will hopefully be able to enjoy again if they coach at a World Championship. To date, the Programme has had 35 graduates, from 10 different MAs: Cana- da; USA; China; Italy; Romania; ; Netherlands; Estonia; and Fin- land. Our facilitators have had eight national coaches (Canada; Switzerland; Russia; Sweden; Turkey; Austria; ; ) help in round-table discussions about coaching at a major championship. Watch the website for announcements of dates for the 2015-16 Coach Mentoring Programme or for further information about Participants on the latest Coach Mentoring Programme in Halifax, this programme contact [email protected] Canada Photo: WCF May 2015 Newsletter Page 9 Hands-on Curling In the midst of the ZEN-NOH World Women’s Curling Championship 2015, the host committee organised a hugely successful ‘Hands-on Curling’ event together with the WCF and the Sapporo Curling Association. The event took place on Saturday 21 March at the Dohgin Curling Stadium next door to the Championship arena. Teams from Germany, Norway and USA (five athletes per team) joined the event and offered some curling tips on the ice to All of the ‘Hands on Curling’ participants in Sapporo, Japan over 30 local curling fans, from teenagers to elderly citizens. Photo: WCF European Zonal Commission Youth Development Workgroup The European Zonal Commission Youth Development Workgroup meetings took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, be- tween 15-16 May. Chaired by Susanne Slotsager (DEN), workgroup members Agnes Patonai (HUN) and Dan Barna (ROU), together with the WCF Vice-President Bent Ramsfjell and WCF Competitions & Development Officer Allen Coliban, have analysed the current situation of youth development in Europe and have worked on the strategy for future development. The results will be presented to the MAs during the WCF Congress in The European Zonal Commission Youth Development Workgroup Belgrade, September 2015. Photo: WCF MEDIA Since December, we have welcomed five and the WCF website: www.worldcurling.org more students to our Sports Media Trainee We hope to be able to give more students Programme. Stephen Bark (journalist) and the opportunity to work and learn from us Patrick Fulgencio (photographer) joined us in again next season. Tallinn, Estonia, at the World Junior Curling Championships 2015. You can see all of their The WCF’s Media Assistance Programme has also concluded for the season, with 10 work here: wjcc2015.curlingevents.com. applications coming in from eight MAs. We Michael Houston (journalist), Rocky Sung hope to offer this programme again next (photographer) and Edward Hebert (TV pro- season, which provides accommodation for a duction) joined us at the ZEN-NOH World communications representative from MAs to Women’s Curling Championship 2015 in attend a WCF event. For more information The WCF Sports Media Trainees in Sap- Sapporo, Japan. You can see some of their poro, Japan, L-R: Michael Houston, about either of these programmes, email Rocky Sung, Edward Hebert work on the event website: [email protected] wwcc2015.curlingevents.com Photo: WCF/Richard Gray

Danny Parker, our Media Relations Officer (pictured left - Photo: WCF/Celine Stucki), will be leaving the Federation over the summer to take up a new job as Communications Manager for the International Hock- ey Federation (FIH). Danny has been with the WCF since 2011 and has played a key role in developing and growing our commu- nications tools and platforms along with our media reach and media development programmes. On behalf of the Board and staff, I would like to thank him for his dedication to the job. We wish him well as he, and his family, prepare to move from Scotland to Lausanne, Switzerland, to take up this exciting new position. As a result, we are now looking for a new Communications & Media Relations Manager. The job advert can be found here: www.worldcurling.org/jobs May 2015 Newsletter MA NEWS Page 10 Chief Ex- Curling Canada. In addition to their new ecutive Officer Greg Strem- name, replacing the title of the Canadian law will be leaving his position this sum- Curling Association which had been in mer. place since 1990, they overhauled their Greg has transformed the organisation branding, including the adoption of a new since joining in 2007. He leaves Curling emblem. Canada in the best condition in its histo- Curling Canada has also recently benefit- ry, with this country ranked first in the ed from a grant from the Daryl K. Sea- world in men’s, women’s and wheelchair ward Canadian Hockey Fund. curling for the second straight season, With that support, Curling Canada will Curling Canada’s Rocks & Rings Programme has bene- along with a healthy financial picture. be introducing programming that will not fited from support from the Daryl K Seaward Canadian Hokey Fund Photo: Curling Canada I must thank Greg for the tremendous only help increase participation levels in work he has done for our sport, not only youth curling, but also will help families in ber Associations work to bring a series of for Curling Canada but also for world need of getting their kids developing introductory curling sessions through the curling. He will certainly be missed and physical literacy skills. popular Curling Canada Rocks & Rings we wish him all the best in the future. To This project, set to launch in Atlantic programme which has already visited read the full story visit at curling.ca. Canada in September 2015, will close to 5,000 schools, with nearly Earlier in the year, the Canadian Curling see Curling Canada and Provincial Mem- 700,000 participants across the country. Association rebranded themselves as

After 10 years of curling de- as it gave the Croatian women’s deaf Furthermore, The Croatian Curling Asso- velopment in Croatia, they curling team the opportunity to train on ciation was very proud that the 10th installed two dedicated curling sheets of curling ice ahead of the Deaflympics in Croatian Curling National Championships ice for the first time this year. Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, where they fin- were able to be played in the country for Curling Club Čudnovati Čunjaš secured ished in fourth place. the first time, after taking place nine times an area in a basement car park under the in Budapest, Hungary. The Slovenian Curling Association Handball Arena Zagreb where they ran a was another important partner. They Discussions are now ongoing with the test project for two months at a cost of provided an Ice Boss, paint for the ice city of Zagreb as both parties look to around $24,000 USD. and helped make the ice. Without their investigate the idea of running this again. Funding was secured from Curling Club help it would have been very difficult to The hope is to obtain a long-term lease Čudnovati Čunjaš as well as a private implement the project. (minimum 5 years) in an area that they company, Kelonio d.o.o. Many more or- Over the two months, around 200 peo- could install four sheets of dedicated curl- ganisations also provided support, includ- ple made use of the ice. This was thanks ing ice, hopefully from September this ing the Zagreb Curling Association; Cro- to 25 volunteers who worked tirelessly year, which would be great for Croatia. atian Curling Association and the throughout the trial to ensure its success. Croatian Deaf Association who benefited

Before, during and completed. The temporary dedicated curling facility in Zagreb, Croatia Photos: Curling Club Čudnovati Čunjaš May 2015 Newsletter Page 11

Since January, the Hong curlers who have previously joined WCF Kong Curling Association Camps and Courses. has offered a number of floor curling With informative lectures, discussions and demonstrations and training to different four hours of ice time per day, partici- organisations, serving over 800 partici- pants improved considerably. pants. They then held two hugely successful four Instructor courses for teachers and sum- -day training camps held from 27-30 mer training camps for kids are also being March and 31 March to 3 April 2015 in planned. Haiya Eurojoy Ice Rink, Shenzhen, China. They have also held two training camps in Coaching the participants was WCF recent months thanks to the WCF’s De- Competitions & Development Officer velopment Assistance Programme (DAP). Allen Coliban. The first course was in Karuizawa, Japan A total of 30 participants joined the camp, from 16-19 February 2015. It provided a 21 of them were new curlers. rich learning experience for nine partici- pants, ranging from first -time curlers to While new curlers made great progress, Some Hong Kong curlers at one of the recent camps returning curlers further honed their and courses skills. Photo: Hong Kong Curling Association

The Qatar Curling Federation has been focusing on youth development over the past few months as they launched their ‘Creating Curling Teams from Schools and Universities’ programme. They have been working with the Qatar Education Supreme Council to reach out to Qatar Inde- pendent schools with a view to raising awareness of curling amongst young students and gaining interest levels from the younger generations of Qatar. In addition to schools activity, they have also been arranging meetings with several universities throughout the country with the aim of registering players from institutions such as Qatar Uni- versity, Qatar Foundation and Stenden University. Additionally, they already have approval from Qatar University and the College of North Atlantic in Qatar to run curling educational sessions Youngsters learning about curling in Qa- tar Photo: Qatar Curling Federation with their students to raise awareness of the sport over the coming months.

Judith McCleary (pictured right, photo: RCCC), who represented Scotland at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2015 in Sochi, Russia, has been ap- pointed as Head of Development for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. The role will pro- vide leadership across all areas that develop curling membership, competitions, workforce and performance development, in line with the new strategic plan. The Development Manager posi- tion which will now be left vacant following Judith’s departure from the role will be advertised in the coming weeks on their website. The Swedish Olympic Committee has announced that two-time Olympic gold medallist (pictured right, photo: Swedish Olympic Committee) has been elected as a Board Director at their 2015 Annual Meeting. Joining Anette was Jerker Löfgren (skiing), Maria Damgren-Nilsson (triathlon) and Hans von Uthmann (basketball). The Swedish Olympic Committee now has two Olympians among their permanent Board Mem- bers, together with Anette, who is also a member of the Swedish Curling Association’s Board, they also have Bengt Jönsson (swimming). May 2015 Newsletter Page 12

We were delighted to hear contributed directly to new club develop- that the US Curling Asso- ment, membership growth, and prosper- ciation (USCA) has appointed Rick ing USCA member clubs that have seized Patzke as their first Chief Executive Of- upon the opportunities resulting from ficer. rising participation in the sport, including Rick, who began working with the USCA through corporate events. in 1996 as Communications Manager and 167 clubs in 40 states now make up the was promoted to Chief Operating Officer USCA. Efforts to start curling clubs are in 2006, begins his new role immediately. also underway in at least five additional states. Under his leadership over the past sever- Curling in the Gym: Designed to ex- al years, much progress has been made Arena-based curling clubs have enabled pand knowledge of and access to the within US curling. A key milestone the sport to grow in warm-weather sport of curling while increasing physical reached in April this year saw the organi- states and other areas without current activity in elementary school children via sation exceed 20,000 members for the access to dedicated curling ice as well. flat floor surface curling. Clubs can borrow first time in their history. More than 40 arena-based curling equipment for free, but are responsible This marked an 87 percent increase in clubs that are currently members of the for the cost of shipping. membership since the landmark national USCA were founded since the 2006 Olympic Day: USA Curling is partner- TV exposure of the sport provided by US Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. ing with the US Olympic Committee to broadcaster NBC of the 2002 Salt Lake Furthermore, since 2011, 11 new dedi- celebrate International Olympic Day on City Olympic Winter Games. cated ice facilities have opened in the 23 June. Each event host will receive a The USCA has secured more than $2.5 USA and at least two more are currently complimentary Olympic Day flag and million in grants and sponsorships since under construction. Team USA stickers along with the oppor- 2000 that have helped produce national tunity to host an Olympian or Paralympi- The USCA is also promoting the follow- TV coverage of curling. This exposure has an at his or her celebration. ing programmes over the coming weeks:

ANTI-DOPING The WCF would like to remind all MAs about their re- sponsibility to ensure our sport remains free from doping. Prevention through education is one of the key tools used to help combat doping, with many resources available at worldcurling.org for MAs, officials, athletes, coaches, physicians and any other support personnel involved in curling. WADA's Play True Quiz is an interactive computer game that tests athletes’ knowledge about anti-doping. It provides athletes and members of the athlete entourage a Members of the Korean women’s team undertaking the WADA Play True Quiz whilst fun and engaging way to learn more about the dangers of at the World Junior Curling Championships 2015 Photo: WCF doping and their responsibilities under the World Anti- Doping Code. The Quiz is currently available in 36 languages. Start testing your knowledge now: www.wada-ama.org/en/what-we-do/education- awareness/tools-for-stakeholders/play-true-quiz May 2015 Newsletter Event Bidding Page 13 Please find below an up to date record of the event bids we have received and those we are still looking for. If you are interested in hosting any WCF events, please contact [email protected].

Competitions 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 2019/2020 WCF can award whenever a suitable bid is received White cells = awarded; blue cells = contract offered; yellow cells = require bids

European Mixed (EMCC) + 12-19 Sep 2015 15-22 Oct 2016 14-21 Oct 2017 13-20 Oct 2018 12-19 Oct 2019 (becomes) World Mixed (WMxCC) Berne, SUI (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates)

2-9 Apr 2016 (Proposed European “C” Curling Championships 12-17 Oct 2015 31 Mar - 7 Apr 2018 30 Mar - 6 Apr 2019 28 Mar - 4 Apr 2020 dates) + 1-8 Apr 2017 (ECC-C) Champery, SUI (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed Dates) World Wheelchair B Curling Champion- 7-12 Nov 2015 29 Oct-3 Nov 2016 28 Oct-2 Nov 2017 27 Oct-1 Nov 2018 26-31 Oct 2019 ship (WWhBCC) Lohja, FIN (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) Pacific-Asia Curling Championships 7-14 Nov 2015 5-12 Nov 2016 4-11 Nov 2017 3-10 Nov 2018 2-9 Nov 2019 (PACC) Almaty, KAZ (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates

18-26 Nov 2016 17-25 Nov 2017 Le Gruyere European Championships 20-28 Nov 2015 16-24 Nov 2018 15-23 Nov 2019 (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (ECC-A & B) Esbjerg, DEN (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) Braehead, SCO (one bid received)

WCF Olympic Qualification Event 5-10 Dec 2017 X X X X (OQE) (Proposed dates)

WJBCC WJBCC WJBCC European Junior Challenge (EJCC) + 3-9 Jan 2016 WJBCC 3-9 Jan 2017 3-9 Jan 2018 3-9 Jan 2018 3-9 Jan 2020 (becomes) World Junior-B (WJBCC) Lohja, FIN (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) 29 Jan-8 Feb 2017 World University Games (WUG) X X FISU Decision X Almaty, KAZ 12-21 February 2016 Youth (YOG) X X X IOC Decision Lillehammer, NOR 2-8 Mar 2019 29 Feb - 6 Mar 2020 World Wheelchair Championship 22-28 Feb 2016 4-11 Mar 2017 None in (proposed dates) (proposed dates) (WWhCC) Luzern, SUI PyeongChang, KOR Paralympic Year Stirling, SCO (one bid received) 9-25 Feb 2018 Olympic Winter Games (OG) X X X X PyeongChang, KOR 3-11 Mar 2018 5-13 March 2016 16-26 Feb 2017 18-27 Feb 2019 14-23 Feb 2020 World Junior Championships (WJCC) (Proposed dates) Erzurum, TUR PyeongChang, KOR (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) Aberdeen, SCO 9-18 Mar 2018 Paralympic Winter Games (PWG) X X X X PyeongChang, KOR 14-22 Mar 2020 17-25 Mar 2018 15-24 Mar 2019 World Women's Championship 19-27 Mar 2016 18-26 Mar 2017 (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) (proposed dates) (WWCC) Swift Current, CAN (contract offered) CANADA CANADA Esbjerg, DEN (subject to contract) 30 Mar - 7 Apr 2019 31 Mar-8 Apr 2018 28 Mar - 5 Apr 2020 2-10 April 2016 1-9 Apr 2017 (Proposed dates) World Men's Championship (WMCC) (Proposed dates) (proposed dates) Basel, SUI CANADA CANADA (contract offered) Glasgow, SCO (subject to contract)

14-21 Apr 2018 15-22 Apr 2017 If combined with (Proposed dates) If combined with 16 – 23 Apr 2016 (if combined with WMDCC 27 Apr - 4 World Senior Championships (WSCC) (If combined with WMDCC 18-25 Apr Karlstad, SWE May 2019 WMDCC 22-29 Apr WMDCC 21-28 Apr 2020 (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) 2017) 2018 - Proposed dates)

23-30 Apr 2017 (if combined with 28 Apr-5 May 2018 (Proposed dates) If combined with If combined with WSCC World Mixed Doubles Curling Champi- 16 – 23 Apr 2016 WSCC 22-29 Apr 2017) If MD in the Olympics, (if combined with WSCC 27 Apr - 4 May 18-25 Apr 2020 onship (WMDCC) Karlstad, SWE then WMDCC (or WSCC 21-28 Apr 2018 2019 (Proposed dates) (Proposed dates) exhibition) will be played - Proposed dates) with the WJCC

Easter 25-28 Mar 2016 14-17 Apr 2017 30 Mar-2 Apr 2018 19-22 Apr 2019 10-13 Apr 2020 May 2015 Newsletter 2015/16 Event Calendar Page 14

2015/16 Events Locations

2-5 Sep 2015 World Curling Congress Belgrade, Serbia

12-19 Sep 2015 World Mixed Curling Championship (WMxCC) Berne, Switzerland

12-17 Oct 2015 European Curling Championships C-Division (ECC-C) Champery, Switzerland

World Wheelchair B Curling Championship 7-12 Nov 2015 (WWhBCC) Lohja, Finland

7-14 Nov 2015 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships (PACC) Almaty,

20-28 Nov 2015 Le Gruyere European Championships (ECC-A & B) Esbjerg, Denmark

3-9 Jan 2016 World Junior B Curling Championship (WJBCC) Lohja, Finland

12-21 February 2016 (YOG) Lillehammer, Norway

22-28 Feb 2016 World Wheelchair Championship (WWhCC) Luzern, Switzerland

5-13 March 2016 World Junior Championships (WJCC) Erzurum, Turkey

19-27 Mar 2016 World Women's Championship (WWCC) Swift Current, Canada

2-10 April 2016 World Men's Championship (WMCC) Basel, Switzerland

16 – 23 Apr 2016 World Senior Championships (WSCC) Karlstad, Sweden

World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 16 – 23 Apr 2016 (WMDCC) Karlstad, Sweden

Deadlines

The World Curling Federation has the following upcoming deadlines:  European Curling Championships C-Division 2015 Entries to be returned by 31 May 2015  World Mixed Curling Championship 2015 Entries to be returned by 1 June 2015  European Curling Championships A & B Divisions 2015 Entries to be returned by 15 June 2015  World Wheelchair B Curling Championship 2015 Entries to be returned by 15 July 2015  Pacific-Asia Curling Championships 2015 Entries to be returned by 15 July 2015 World Curling President’s Travels Federation Over the past few months, as well as attending the Championships, I have been busy with several meetings around the world. 3 Atholl Crescent The end of January saw me head for Quebec, Canada, to attend the World Masters Winter Perth PH1 5NG Games and International Master Games Association (IMGA) Board meeting in my role as United Kingdom Governor of the IMGA. Curling saw its first appearance at those Games and although the Phone: (44) 1738 451 630 number of teams participating was disappointing I am sure this will not be the case next Fax: (44) 1738 451 641 time around. Email: [email protected] In February, I returned to Sochi to attend the Russian Olympic Committee’s one year anni- Facebook: worldcurlingfederation versary of the opening of the Olympic Winter Games 2014. Whilst there I visited the Ice Google+: gplus.to/ Cube Curling Centre and I was delighted to see that the legacy from the Games continues worldcurlingfederation to deliver success, with the ice there being fully utilised throughout the year for curling. Youtube: WorldCurlingTV Twitter: @worldcurling A few days later, at the World Junior Curling Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, I met with Instagram: @worldcurling the Secretary of State, Minister of Culture and a Member of Parliament following a visit to Linkedin: world-curling-federation their Parliament, where we discussed the potential for future international curling events in the country. Whilst in Tallinn, we also held meetings with the PyeongChang 2018 Organis- Follow us ing Committee regarding the venue plans for the forthcoming 2018 games. The ZEN-NOH World Women’s Curling Championship 2015 was also the venue for our Board meetings. Prior to the final I left to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the IOC Pro- gramme Commission meeting before travelling on to the Men’s Worlds in Canada. After Canada, I travelled to Kazakhstan where I was joined by WCF advisor Leif Öhman. We were invited by Almaty to check out their plans for curling within their bid for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Whilst there, we visited the proposed facili- ties for the 2015 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships and the 2017 Winter Universiade. I concluded the season at the SportAccord Convention and Congress, which took place at the same time as our World Mixed Doubles and Senior Curling Championships in Sochi, Russia. In addition to several meetings held with a number of organisations, I had the pleas- ure of presenting as a panelist on the ‘When Equality IS the Legacy’ forum.

Next Edition Our next newsletter will be published in September, following our Annual Congress which is taking place in Belgrade, Serbia between 2-5 September 2015. At our Congress, we will revisit the rules issues that you asked our Commissions to look at Visit our website: again following the meetings in Reno last year. Elections will also take place, one to elect the www.worldcurling.org WCF Vice-President from the European zone and another for one position on the Board. I am confident that this year’s Congress will yet again prove to be very productive and I look forward to meeting you all in Belgrade. Whilst curling in the northern hemisphere takes a break, our friends in the southern hemi- sphere will just be getting started and we wish everyone from New Zealand, and everywhere else curling over the next few months good luck and good curling. Looking ahead, if you wish to share any suggestions, news or information in our next news- letter, please contact [email protected] no later than August 30, 2015. Yours in curling,