PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER

September 2015

Welcome

Inside this issue: The new season is underway and already, since the last Newsletter, we have had our first World Championship. Events: 2-3 It was a pleasure to attend the inaugural - Update World Mixed Curling Championship 2015 in - Calendar Berne, Switzerland, where the Local - Bidding Organising Committee did a great job.

Well done to our three medal winning teams: Norway (Gold), Sweden (Silver) and Development 4-5 China (Bronze).

I am thoroughly looking forward to a busy season on the ice with six World Curling Your News 6 Championships, as well as our qualification and regional events, still to come. Next, it’s back to Switzerland for the European C-Division Curling Championships 2015 in Champéry followed by Almaty, Kazakhstan for the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships 2015. Other News 7-8 Away from the ice, it has been a busy off-season that culminated in our fourth World Curling Congress in Belgrade, hosted by the National Curling Association of Serbia.

This was our biggest Congress yet, with over 140 delegates attending our open meetings, during the week, and Annual General Assembly (AGA) on Saturday 5 September.

As well as the formal programme, our hosts Marko and Dara Stojanovic arranged some excellent entertainment each evening for everyone to enjoy.

You will find more on the Congress and World Mixed Curling Championship 2015, amongst other Special points of in- items on development and curling around the globe, later in the Newsletter. terest: I hope you enjoy reading this edition, and remember you can read more about each story by  Rule changes (p2) clicking on the headline.

 World Mixed Curling Championship review (p2)

 Opportunities for MAs (p5)

 Mixed Doubles added to Winter Olympic Games programme (p7)

 Sports Media Trainee Programme (p7)

Photos: WCF / Antonio Ahel & Céline Stucki Page 2 EVENTS September 2015

World Curling Congress and Annual General Assembly 2015

The fourth World Curling Congress, in Belgrade, saw 2002 Olympic  Alterations to the rules and format of Mixed Doubles gold medallist Bent Ånund Ramsfjell, from Norway, re-elected as During the week WCF Board members and staff helped the Na- the ’s (WCF) Vice President for Europe. tional Curling Association of Serbia mark a significant milestone in Also, Toyo Ogawa from Japan was re-elected to the Board of Di- their history by laying the first bricks of what will become Serbia’s rectors, for another four-year term. first dedicated curling facility [pictured below].

During the Congress and AGA some 26 proposals relating to the For more information from this year’s Congress and AGA, a com- Rules of Curling and a further three relating to Mixed Doubles plete recap of the rule changes and for the 2014/15 WCF Annual curling, the Olympics’ newest curling discipline, were considered Review visit, http://worldcurling.org/wcf-aga-2015 and voted on.

Key Competition and Rules changes approved by the AGA:

 Introduction of the Olympic semi-final system at the Pacific- Asia and European A Division Curling Championships to replace the Page system.

 Introduction of a new play-off and relegation system for the European B Division Championships

 Qualification for the third place team from the Pacific-Asia Championships to the WCF’s Olympic Qualification Event, if they have not previously qualified

 Two minutes more thinking time for wheelchair curling Photo: WCF / Antonio Ahel games: new total of 38 minutes

Inaugural World Mixed Curling Championship a success The inaugural World Mixed Curling Championship in Berne, Swit- third Julie Molnar, second Sander Roelvaag and lead zerland was a great event and my thanks go to the local organising [pictured left], who won gold in a thrilling final against Sweden, committee for the fitting debut they gave this new championship. which ended 5-3.

Their hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed in ensuring it Also, well done to Sweden and China who were impressive was a success for athletes and supporters alike. throughout the event too and won sliver and bronze respectively.

Well done to Norway, skipped by and made up of History was also made as Belgium won their first game of World Championship curling, during the round robin. They beat Romania 8-2 on the last day of the group games.

36 teams travelled to Berne, for this event that lasted eight days between Saturday 12 and 19 September, and each and everyone of them put on a first class show whilst also embracing the true ‘Spirit of Curling’ for which our sport is renowned.

I look forward to next year’s event already, which will be played between 15-22 October 2016, and confirming the venue in due course.

For the final results, standings and event galleries visit, http:// worldcurling.org/wmxcc2015

Photo: WCF / Céline Stucki Page 3 EVENTS September 2015 Event bidding Here you will find 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]

2015/16 event calendar European Curling Championships C Division 2015 Champéry, Switzerland (12-17 October 2015)

*World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship 2015 Lohja, Finland (7-12 November 2015)

*Pacific-Asia Curling Championships 2015 Almaty, Kazakhstan (8-14 November 2015)

*Le Gruyère European Curling Championships 2015 Esbjerg, Denmark (20-28 November 2015)

World Junior-B Curling Championships 2016 Lohja, Finland (3-9 January 2016)

Youth Olympic Winter Games 2016 Lillehammer, Norway (12-21 February 2016)

World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2016 Lucerne, Switzerland (21-28 February 2016)

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

Ford World Women’s Curling Championship 2016 Swift Current, Canada (19-27 March 2016)

World Curling Federation 50th Anniversary (1 April 2016)

World Men’s Curling Championship 2016 Basel, Switzerland (2-10 April 2016)

World Mixed Doubles & Senior Curling Championships 2016 Karlstad, Sweden (16-24 April 2016)

*Please be reminded entries are due for the following events: - WWhBCC 2015: Paperwork to be submitted by Friday 9 October 2015 - PACC 2015: Paperwork to be submitted by Friday 9 October 2015 - ECC A & B 2015: Paperwork to be submitted by Thursday 15 October 2015 Page 4 DEVELOPMENT September 2015 WCF Development Our Competitions and Development Officer (CDO) team are responsible for growing and developing curling around the world. Here are some highlights from their summer’s activities, plus opportunities for you, our Member Associations, to get involved with. Camps and courses update

In June and July the WCF held technical In August the Prague Adult Camp took place courses and for the 18th time, the WCF/DCV for the 9th time. We had 39 participants from Hummelt Junior Curling Camp, in Füssen, 11 Member Associations, all-eager to improve Germany. their skills and at the same time prepare for the upcoming curling season. For the first time the newly designed Wheelchair Instructor Course, which covers lining up on the ice, preparing wheelchairs and delivering stones, took place and was a huge success.

The traditional Ice-Technician Course and Advanced Instructor and Advanced Umpire courses were also offered. These courses took place between 25 June and 4 July. The junior camp that followed, from 5-11 July, was another huge success.

During the two weeks in Füssen we had total of 185 participants and 27 instructors, assistants and administrators from 30 differ- ent Member Associations participating in one or more of the offered courses and camp.

Instructor course and Elite Coaching Symposium in Sweden From 14-16 August 2015, 14 elite coaches from 11 Member (2013 and 2014) Alison Kreviazuk led the course. 16 instructors Associations gathered with the World Curling Federation (WCF) from 13 different cities were in attendance learning advanced Competitions and Development Officer (CDO) team and Canadian methods for teaching the curling delivery and sweeping. This Bill Tschirhart in Östersund Sweden. knowledge will be utilised in the new instructor and coaching courses that are being delivered by the SCA. Together they were there to answer the question “How can high performance positively impact grassroots curling development?” The open forum followed the theme of “Share and Learn” and lead to lengthy discussions on the state of curling worldwide and how to help grow the sport with that global perspective in mind.

Opinions and ideas were collected and will be used by the CDO team to help direct their efforts in development. At the same time, Member Associations (MAs) began to collaborate and work on their specific needs for the growth of the sport in their country.

Also during (20-21) August, The Swedish Curling Association (SCA) and Karlstad Curling Club hosted an Instructor Course. WCF CDO Scott Arnold and World Women’s Curling Championship medalist Photos: WCF Page 5 DEVELOPMENT September 2015

Olympic Celebration Tour (OCT)

The OCT is a series of tour stops to curling clubs with an Olympian and WCF Instructor to help generate interest in our sport, to promote curling and to help grow your membership.

Host clubs are responsible for providing the ice for a weekend, along with instructors and volunteers. You would also be required to market and advertise the event and host a Meet and Greet with these prospective members as an additional opportunity to meet an Olympian.

For more information and to submit application, visit: http://worldcurling.org/olympic -celebration-tour

Curling Equipment Programme (CEP) The WCF in partnership with BalancePlus and Goldline can provide you with equipment packages, which include brushes and sliders, when hosting camps or clinics.

Applications are being accepted now for camps or clinics completed by Saturday 20 April 2016.

For more information visit our website or follow this link: http://worldcurling.org/curling- equipment-programme-cep

Business of Curling

Is your club membership growing? What is your volunteer base? Do you have a sponsorship package and how successful are you at attracting new sponsors?

These are just a few of the topics that could be on the agenda if you were to host a Business of Curling Workshop.

All you need is a meeting space for 25 participants for a weekend. The WCF will provide the facilitator. You would be required to advertise and coordinate the registration of the participants who would ideally come from your club and others nearby.

If you wish to speak to someone about the opportunities above please contact CDO Darrell Ell – [email protected] Page 6 YOUR NEWS September 2015

Curling Following the sad news of the death of Mr. Rich K. H. Lee, former presi- Canada dent of Chinese Taipei Curling Federation, Mr Eddy Y. T. Wu has been has spent part of the appointed as the new president of Chinese Taipei Curling Federation. summer taking the In Hong Kong, thanks to the support of WCF’s ‘Roaring Game’ to Development Assistance Programme (DAP), two Shen- some non-traditional zhen Summer Curling Camps were organised on 7-11 and places, such as the 21-24 August. A total of 23 participants joined the two four-day camps. Many of the participants are under 21 with the youngest being 7.5 years RCGT Park in Ottawa; old. Coaching the camps were Julie Morrison, John Li and CK Chan. The home field of the camps laid a good foundation in developing youth training. Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball team, the Ottawa Champions. From September 2015 the Kamaraerdei Curling Club, the only rink in Hungary, will be accessible for wheelchair- Street Curling, the portable curling simulation that features “ice” and users. The rebuilding was mostly funded from the “rocks” that can be set up in a variety of locations, made an Development Assistance Program (DAP) of the WCF, but appearance at a Champions game in early September, and more than the curling club provided a small financial contribution. 500 fans flocked to try it out [pictured above]. Training sessions have already started, and are being led by two The Street Curling unit was purchased by Curling Canada thanks in experienced Hungarian coaches once a week [pictured below]. large to a grant from the WCF’s Development Assistance Programme The next step in developing wheelchair curling in Hungary is a training (DAP). It’s being used in the Ottawa area to raise awareness of the camp that will be organised this October and will be led by the Scottish 2016 Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men’s wheelchair curling player, Paralympic silver medallist in Torino in 2006, Michael McCreadie who is also a member of the WCF’s Athlete championship next March. Commission.

Сurling in Russia continues its Scotland’s Indoor Grand Match growth in the North of the [advert left bottom], sponsored by country. award winning independent financial advisers, Alan Steel Asset

Management, is due to take place on Saturday 24 A new dedicated curling facility was opened October 2015. Billed as the ‘Battle of North of on 17 August 2015 in Novosibirsk, one of Scotland versus South of Scotland’ this year’s event Siberia’s major cities. is set to feature over 2300 curlers competing in around 600 teams at 17 ice rinks across Scotland, making it one of the biggest mass participation The Pinguin Curling Club has four sheets of events in sport. ice and is to become a training centre for The Indoor Grand Match is a spin-off event based local curlers and those from neighbouring on the traditional Grand Matches that are held on cities. The first athletes practicing on the new a frozen loch when temperatures and ice ice were juniors from Irkutsk who enjoyed conditions permit. The indoor version was initiated two weeks of curling at the new facility in the year 2000 to celebrate the millennium and rather travelling to Sochi as they did before due to its success has continued every five years [pictured right middle]. since. An imaginary line is drawn between the River Forth and River Clyde to decide the two sides and scores The Russian Curling Federation expects are compiled at the conclusion of all the games further curling growth in Siberia following the with the winner being the side with the most appointment of a curling event at one of the points. The South of Scotland has prevailed in all world’s most northerly ice arenas in Dudinka three previous Indoor Grand Matches in 2000, in 2016 and after the 29th Winter 2005 and 2010. in 2019 in Krasnoyarsk. Follow the event here http:// competitions.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/? p=1119 Page 7 OTHER NEWS September 2015

Mixed Doubles added to Winter Olympic Games programme

It’s an exciting time for the Mixed back of the pin hole to the back of Doubles curling discipline. the four foot rings.

In June, the International Olympic  Removal of the requirement for the Committee (IOC) confirmed that Mixed non-throwing member of the team Doubles curling had been approved as to be in the house. This means a an additional event at the PyeongChang stone can be swept immediately on 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The delivery rather than the thrower announcement was made following its having to get up and chase the Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, stone down. Switzerland.  For each team, once in the game This means that there are now three when they have last stone, they can curling events – Men’s, Women’s and locate the stones in a ‘PowerPlay” Mixed Doubles – in the 2018 Olympic position. The in-house stone of the Winter Games programme. team with last stone is placed with The same day the International the back edge of the stone on the Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed teeline, while at the same time that the wheelchair curling event at the splitting the eight foot and 12 foot In August, prior to the AGA, these rule PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter rings. The guard is re-positioned changes were tested at the Audi quattro Games will be expanded from 10 to 12 from the centre-line to a direct line Winter Games New Zealand (WGNZ) in teams. The IPC confirmed this expansion between the middle of the in-house Naseby and were well received by the stone and the middle of the hack. following their Governing Board meeting athletes [pictured above]. held in Tokyo, Japan. The in-house stone will be directly To watch the WGNZ final visit, http:// behind the guard. The guard posi- In addition, a series of new rules have worldcurling.org/wgnz-2015. tion will be at the same distance been introduced to Mixed Doubles curl- from the rings as the normal posi- The next World Mixed Doubles Curling ing, which were approved at the Annual tion of the centre guard. Championship will be played in Karlstad, General Assembly (AGA) in Belgrade: Sweden, between 16 and 23 April 2016 These have been adopted to make  In order to vary the strategies of and it is expected that the new Mixed Mixed Doubles curling more competitive teams and shots, the in-house pre- Doubles Olympic Qualification System and entertaining. placed stone will be moved from the will be in place by then.

Sports Media Trainee Programme Photos: Audi quattro Winter Games New Zealand The World Curling Federation (WCF) is pleased to be offering its Sports Media Trainee Programme once again. Full time students, from around the world, are invited to submit entries for the development programme, that offers invaluable experiences in journalism, photography and TV production at some of the WCF’s most high profile events.

In season 2015/16, successful applicants will be immersed in the media operations of one of the fastest growing Olympic and Paralympic winter sports and will be given direction from WCF’s Communications and Media Relations team.

Entries are now open and must be submitted no later than 13:00 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on Tuesday 20 October 2015. For more infor- mation on the Sport Media Trainee Programme and how to apply visit http://worldcurling.org/smtp-2015-16 Photo: WCF / Richard Gray Page 8 OTHER NEWS September 2015

World Curling World Anti-Doping Code 2015 Federation The World Anti-Doping Code is the fundamental and universal document upon which the World Anti-Doping Program in sport is based and can be found on the WADA website: 3 Atholl Crescent https://wada-ama.org/en/resources/the-code/world-anti-doping-code Perth PH1 5NG Significant changes have been made between the 2009 Code and the 2015 Code, Version United Kingdom 4.0 Phone: (44) 1738 451 630 The main changes are summarised as follows: Fax: (44) 1738 451 641 Email: [email protected]  The 2015 Code amendments provide for longer periods of Ineligibility for real cheats,

Facebook: worldcurlingfederation and more flexibility in sanctioning in other specific circumstances Google+: gplus.to/  Consideration of the Principles of Proportionality and Human Rights worldcurlingfederation YouTube: WorldCurlingTV  The 2015 Code amendments support the increasing importance of investigations and Twitter: @worldcurling use of intelligence in the fight against doping Instagram: @worldcurling LinkedIn: world-curling-federation  Amendments to the 2015 Code have been included to better reach Athlete Support Personnel who are involved in doping Follow us  The 2015 Code amendments place additional emphasis on the concepts of smart test distribution planning, and smart menus for sample analysis

 The 2015 Code amendments attempt to be both clearer and fairer in balancing the interests of International Federations and National Anti-Doping Organisations

Media Assistance Programme  Making the Code clearer and shorter

Applications are now being taken An overview of the key changes related to each theme above can be found on the WADA for the 2015/16 Media Assistance website: https://wada-ama.org/en/resources/the-code/significant-changes-between-the- Programme, an initiative offered 2009-code-and-the-2015-code exclusively to our MAs. Contact Please refer to the Athlete Reference Guide to 2015 Code which provides an understanding [email protected] for of the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code and is in no way a binding legal document. The more information or to apply. language of the Code is always the primary source.

Next Edition Thank you for taking the time to read the Newsletter for September 2015, our next edition will be in January, by which point the season will be in full swing.

I am looking forward to events in Switzerland, Finland, Kazakhstan and Denmark and meeting up with many of you, in and out of competition. I also look forward to updating you on all the activity that will take place between now and then.

Visit our website: To all the teams competing in the next four months good luck and good curling! www.worldcurling.org Looking ahead, if you wish to share and news or information in our next newsletter, please contact [email protected] (by Friday 18 December 2015).

Yours in curling,