PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER

November 2013 Welcome Since my last newsletter, activity has Inside this issue: really gathered pace, with our first three events of the year taking place: the European Mixed Curling Championship, European C- WCF News 1 Group and Pacific-Asia Curling Champion-

2 ships. What a start to the season we have had, having witnessed some truly excellent compe- 3 tition around the world. We have also been busy behind the scenes, 4 undertaking the first two of our Olympic Cele- bration Tour events as well as continuing with Development 5 preparations ahead of a busy few months as MA News 6 our season continues. Our Members have also been busy, gearing up Deadlines 7 for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games which take place in less than 100 days time. The next few months will not only be crucial in terms of competition, but also in terms of development and taking advantage of the added focus our sport will receive thanks to the platform that the Olympics and Para- lympics give our sport. I hope you enjoy this latest newsletter and Pacific-Asia Curling Champions 2013—China men and Korea remember, you can read more about each Special points of women interest: story by clicking on the headline.

World Curling Congress 2013  PACC & EMCC p2) The second annual World Curl- proved a new constitutional The Athlete Commission and  News in brief (p3) ing Congress was held in Copen- structure for the WCF. Competition & Rules Commis-  Media update (p3) hagen, Denmark in September. It was announced that the sion also got to meet in person World Women’s Curling Cham- for the first time.  On the road (p4) During the Congress the Olym- pionship in 2015 has been pic and Paralympic Winter It was yet another hugely suc-  Olympic Celebration Games playing schedules were awarded to the city of Sapporo cessful Congress and thanks to Tour (p5) released via our new website: in Japan. everyone involved in the event,  China Open (p6) sochi2014.curlingevents.com MAs also voted to accept three especially, Sport Event Denmark The ’s new provisional MAs: Israel, and the Danish Curling Associa- (WCF) Annual General Assem- Georgia and Ukraine while Bul- tion (Dansk Curling Forbund) bly was also held, at which Mem- garia was reinstated. who ensured everyone enjoyed ber Associations (MAs) ap- their visit to Copenhagen. Page 2 November 2013 Newsletter

Pacific-Asia Curling Championships

Congratulations to all of the China women qualified for medal winners at the Pacific- the Ford World Women’s Asia Curling Championships Curling Championship 2014. (PACC) 2013 which were Korea men and Japan wom- held in Shanghai, China. Ko- en won the bronze medals. rea women and China men During the Championships I won gold and Japan men and attended the Pacific-Asia China women took the sil- Curling Federation (PACF) ver medals. Those results Annual General Assembly, meant that Japan men quali- where MAs attending agreed fied for the World Men’s to dissolve the PACF. In Curling Championship 2014 future they will meet as the (China had already qualified Pacific-Asia Zonal Commis- Teams training for the PACC, hosted in the city of Shanghai , China for the first time Photo: Chinese Curling Association/Yang Gao as host) and both Korea and sion of the WCF.

European Mixed Curling Championship The European Mixed Curling event sponsors and many volun- Championship 2013 took place in teers, all of whom contributed to Edinburgh, Scotland in September. make this an enjoyable experience Congratulations to Germany who for everyone involved in the won the gold medal, as well as event. Scotland (silver) and Hungary This was the first EMCC that the (bronze). WCF was involved in under the Our thanks must go to the local approval of the European Curling Germany were crowned European Mixed Curling Champions organising committee, the Royal Federation. 2013 Photo: WCF/Richard Gray Caledonian Curling Club, the

WCF announce new official timekeeper We are delighted to announce that Edox has become the new official timekeeper of the WCF following the signing of a two year agreement with the Swiss watch manufacturer during the Edox and Claude Bernard ‐ 8th International Confer- ence in Cannes, France. The contract, facilitated by the WCF’s marketing agent Infront Sports & Media, sees a new role created for an official timekeeper. This will see Edox become fully integrated across the WCF World Men’s and Women’s Curling Champion- ship events as well as the European Curling Championships for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. As the Official Timekeeper of the WCF, Edox will benefit from prime exposure at WCF flagship events. Principle contractual rights include on-screen and under Victor Strambini, President of Edox, with WCF President, ice advertising, logo integration on scoreboards and event timing clocks as well as Kate Caithness and Associate Director of Infront Sports & prizes for the winning teams. Media, Andreas Biffinger Photo: Infront Sports & Marketing November 2013 Newsletter Page 3

News in Brief

World Women’s Curling Championship 2015: It was announced that the Tsukisamu Gymnasium in Sapporo, Japan will host the World Women’s Curling Championship in 2015. The championship will take place between 14-22 March 2015 on the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan, where Sapporo is situ- ated. Youth Olympic Games: The dates for the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, From Island to Ice—watch our photo story about curling stone production here: http://tinyurl.com/pkjeq93 Norway have now been con- Photo: WCF/Richard Gray firmed as 12 - 21 February. compete in the 2017 Olympic the production of curling stones by Kays of Scotland. Qualification Event, which will The project has now come to an end and proved ex- Olympic Qualification give two men’s teams and two tremely successful. All in all, 2,500 tons (2,000 Com- Event: We are delighted to women’s teams one final chance mon Green granite and 500 Blue Hone granite) were confirm that MAs who qualify to qualify for the Pyeongchang removed from the island, almost double the amount for the World Curling Champi- 2018 Olympic Winter Games. that was removed in a similar operation 10 years ear- onships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and lier. The island habitat has now been returned to it’s 2017, and do not earn enough Project Ailsa Craig: In my last natural state thanks to the careful management of the qualification points to qualify newsletter I reported on activity environmental impact of this project. Watch the pho- directly for the Olympic Games, taking place on the Scottish is- to story here: http://tinyurl.com/pkjeq93 will be given the opportunity to land of Ailsa Craig in relation to

Media Websites: Since our last newsletter, we launched the official WCF websites for the Olympic Qualification Event, Olympic and Paralympic Games: http://sochi2014.curlingevents.com The schedules for all events, along with much more information, is available here and will be continually updated in the lead up to and during all events. Trainee Journalist and Photographer Programme 2013/14: After receiving a large number of entries again, we finally announced the winners of our Trainee Journalist & Pho- tographer Programme for the season. Joining us at Le Gruyere European Curling Championships 2013 is Rick Lane (journalist) from England and Jesse Kushneryk (photographer) from Canada, while Taylor Craig (journalist) from Canada and Céline Stucki (photographer) from Switzerland will join us for the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship in 2014. Media Assistance Programme (MAP): Our MAP has been open since the summer. So far we have provided support for five applications this season but would like to encour- Jesse Kushneryk (photographer) & Rick Lane age all MAs to apply for assistance. The MAP is designed to assist MAs by covering accom- (journalist) 2013/14 WCF Trainee Programme modation costs for a media or communications representative at a WCF event. winners Photo: WCF Page 4 On the Road November 2013 Newsletter Shanghai University & Chinese Olympic Committee, China

During the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, I had the op- portunity to visit Shanghai Uni- versity where curling has really taken off. 500 students are currently going through a curl- ing programme at the two sheet facility. I also attended meetings in Beijing along with Director of Competitions & Development, Keith Wendorf. We met the local organisining committee for the World Men’s Curling Championship 2014 and dis- We also had the opportunity to cussed developments regarding meet with the Chinese Olympic WCF President Kate Caithness and WCF Director of Competitions & Development Keith Wendorf meeting with the Chinese Olympic Commit- this event. With preparations Committee as they look to tee and Chinese Curling Association Photo: Chinese Curling Association going well, it certainly looks like enhance their bid for the 2022 it will be a very special event Olympic Winter Games. indeed.

Tallin Cup, Estonia

In October, I was invited to Esto- with only 24 teams in 2005 and nia to visit a new dedicated three now welcomes nearly double the sheet curling facility. amount of teams each year. While there I attended the Tallinn It is amazing to see how much Cup (TC) which continues to progress our sport has made grow year on year. Much of this is throughout this region and espe- due to the hard work by those cially in Estonia in recent years. involved in curling in Estonia. Find out more information about The event has played a major role the event here: in the development of curling http://www.tallinncup.ee The Talinn Cup 2013 Photo: www.tallinncup.ee throughout this region. It began

IPC Annual General Assembly, Greece

I had the pleasure of flying to Athens in Greece to attend the International Paralympic Commit- tee Annual General Assembly. During this event I had the opportunity to meet with a number of other Federations, as well as discuss preparations for the Paralympic Winter Games taking place in Sochi, Russia early next year. At the Annual General Assembly, Great Britain’s Sir Philip Craven was re-elected as President for a fourth successive term. Sir Philip Craven was re-elected as IPC The new IPC Vice President is Andrew Parsons who is also the President of the Brazilian Para- President in November lympic Committee. Photo: paralympic.org Page 5 Development November 2013 Newsletter

Olympic Celebration Tour Photos: WCF

Thanks to support from our part- Fellow Canadian Jamie Korab (top ners for this tour, The Foundation right) from the 2006 Olympic gold for Global Sports Development, medal winning Canadian team at- USA Curling hosted the first two tended the Detroit event. Olympic Celebration Tour events in Participants were shown the basics San Francisco and Detroit. Com- of the game by the Olympians and bined, the events attracted over 250 trained instructors. new curlers. The on-ice experience was followed The San Francisco event was attend- by a social event where the new ed by 2010 Olympic silver medalist curlers could have their photos tak- Carolyn (Darbyshire) McRorie en with the Olympic athlete and (bottom right) from Canada. their medal. In addition to the ‘Learn to Curl Both events proved to be incredibly Sessions’ Carolyn also visited some successful and we’re already looking local schools to spread the word forward to our next tour stops. about curling. Find out more about the tour here: http://tinyurl.com/pbrzc6h

WCF Adult Camp The WCF Adult Curling Week in We had five returning participants Bratislava took place between from last year, but only 2 coming September 24–29 and was com- for the Advanced Instruction prised of two modules: Advanced Course. Instruction and Introduction to The feedback from participants Coaching and then the Advanced was great which goes to show the Camp. success of the camp. A total of 19 people registered for Special thanks to Ruzinov Curling the event, representing 10 Mem- Club and the Slovakian Curling ber Associations: Belgium, Bulgar- Association for helping arrange ia, Croatia, Israel, Norway, Poland, and run this camp with us. WCF Competitions & Development Officer, Darrel Ell in- structing in Bratislava Photo: WCF Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia.

Development Assistance Programme

In this current Development Assistance Programme (DAP) year, we have approved $179,000 USD. So far 27 MAs have applied for DAP support. Some of the most recent projects include funding for participation in curling camps and courses, the organisation of curling clinics and courses by MAs, promoting curling at a sports fair, the purchase of street curling equipment, come-and-try sessions, the production of manuals, the purchase of equipment and to help with stone repayments. DAP can be used for participation at curling camps and courses Photo: WCF November 2013 Newsletter Page 6

China Open The Chinese Curling Association recently hosted a test event for the World Men’s Curling Championship 2014. The China Open was held in Beijing and invited eight men’s and eight women’s teams. Mike McEwan and his team from Canada won the men’s competition while Ji-Sun Kim and her team from Korea (both pictured below) won the women’s competition. This proved an extremely useful experience for the local organising committee of the World Men’s Curling Championship 2014 as they were able to test the operation of the venue with this international event before the world’s best men’s curling teams arrive in April to compete for the World Championship title.

MA News Photos: Chinese Olympic Committee AUSTRIA: The ACA have re- event here: http://tinyurl.com/ of billboard posters asking basic questions about cently launched their new website pddshkx curling, which all linked through to this site: which can be viewed here: JAPAN: The JCA recently held http://www.curling.si http://www.curling-austria.at their Olympic Qualification com- SWEDEN: The SCA recently held a very suc- CANADA: The CCA have re- petition to determine the teams cessful ‘Open Door Day 2013’ which saw 10 curl- cently launched a series of ques- that will represent Japan at the ing clubs open their doors to the general public tion and answer sessions with WCF’s Olympic Qualification for come and try sessions where over 500 people their top athletes. You can view Event taking place in Füssen, Ger- were introduced to curling at these clubs. all of these sessions here: http:// many. The women’s event was USA: The USCA recently held their Olympic tinyurl.com/qhm2vg2 won by Team Hokkaido Bank Team Trials in Fargo. Congratulations to John DENMARK: Dansk Curling For- (Ogasawara) and the men’s by SC Shuster and his team who will represent USA bund have appointed a new sport Karuizawa (Morozumi). men at the Olympic Qualification Event and Erika director – Dr Thine Hvid, who NETHERLAND’S: Nederlandse Brown and her team who will represent USA at will be responsible for all interna- Curling Bond have launched a the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Other business tional and teams. new Facebook page: to note in the USA was a curling event in Hawaii ENGLAND: The ECA have www.facebook.com/ which proved really popular in this previously launched their new website: curlingbond untested territory. www.curlingengland.com SCOTLAND: The RCCC have HUNGARY: The HCA recently recently launched a new website held a charity event together with aimed at getting more people the Robert Burns International involved in our sport. Check it Foundation, which attracted 12 out: www.trycurling.com companies and 100 attendees to a SLOVENIA: The Slovenian come and try curling session. This Curling Association recently event helped raise funds for a launched an innovative advertising children’s hospital specialising in campaign in the cities of Ljubljana leukemia. Read more about the and Jesenice. They posted a series USCA’s John Benton coaching kids in Hawaii Photo: USCA World Curling Deadlines Fe dera tio n MAs are reminded of the following deadlines: 74 Tay Street Event Entry: Perth PH2 8NP  World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 15 December 2013 United Kingdom  World Senior Curling Championships 15 December 2013 Phone: (44) 1738 451 630 Fax: (44) 1738 451 641 Event hosts Email: [email protected] The WCF would like to encourage MAs to submit bids for the following championships

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ and would advise that all interest should be submitted as soon as possible to the WorldCurlingFederation Director of Competitions & Development, Keith Wendorf: Google+: www.gplus.to/ [email protected] worldcurlingfederation Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/ The WCF is currently seeking bids for: WorldCurlingTV Twitter Media Feed: @WCFmedia  World Wheelchair Curling Qualification Event 2014 Twitter Fan Feed @worldcurling  Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/ European Curling Championship C-Group 2014 company/world-curling-federation  European Junior Curling Challenge 2015 Follow us  World Junior Curling Championships 2015  World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2015  World Senior Curling Championships 2015  European Curling Championships C-Group 2015  World Wheelchair Curling Qualification Event 2015  European Curling Championships 2015 For further information or if you have any questions about these or any of our other Championship events or courses, please contact the WCF Secretariat via the contact details provided (left).

Next Edition

With our next newsletter due in Febru- Olympics and Paralympics and we will be ary, we’re looking forward to updating very busy working with those in Sochi to you on our activities over the next three ensure the stage is set for our showcase months, including Le Gruyere European event so that the world can enjoy curling Curling Championships 2013, Winter Uni- at its best. versiade, European Junior Curling Chal- Visit our website: Until then, if you wish to share any sug- www.worldcurling.org lenge, Pacific-Asia Junior Curling Champi- gestions, news or information about activi- onships and the WFG Continental Cup. ty that your Association has been under- We are also looking forward to our inau- taking in our next newsletter, please con- gural Olympic Qualification Event, which is tact [email protected] no later taking place in Füssen, Germany in De- than January 24, 2014. cember. This event will decide the final Yours in curling, two men’s and women’s teams for the Olympic Winter Games taking place in Sochi, Russia in February. Excitement continues to grow each day closer we get to the beginning of the