Curling: Global Sports Development Continue to Support Olympic Celebration Tour

The World Curling Federation’s (WCF) Olympic Celebration Tour (OCT) will be funded by the Foundation for Global Sports Development (GSD) for another season, it has been confirmed today (Friday 23 September 2016).

The OCT is designed to generate interest in curling in the lead up to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea and capitalise on the interest from Sochi 2014. This is the fourth season that GSD has given its support to the WCF.

WCF President, Kate Caithness, said: "In the past three seasons the OCT has proved very popular and the feedback we have received has shown it has inspired many young curlers around the globe. With the support of the Foundation for Global Sports Development we hope to continue growing and bringing new people to our sport.

"This is a priority for the World Curling Federation as we move towards the next Olympic Winter Games in Korea, where Mixed Doubles curling will make its debut. The inclusion of this new medal event will also mean curling will be broadcast worldwide every day of the Games.

"Thank you to the Foundation of Global Sports Development for their continued support."

The OCT is a series of instructional clinics, held over two days, for new and experienced curlers alike. The clinics are delivered by a WCF instructor and at least one curling Olympian. In the past the tour has visited USA, Slovenia, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Hungary and Denmark.

Two stops have been arranged for this season so far. The first will be in Riga, Latvia – the host city of the World Women’s Curling Championship 2013 – on 7-9 October. 2006 Olympic gold medallist Jamie Korab, of Canada, will help deliver this event at the Riga Curling Rink. The second stop will be at the Denver Curling Club in Colorado, USA on 21-23 October, with 2006 Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink.

GSD executive board members, Dr Steven Ungerleider and David Ulich, said: "This is a tremendous programme offered by the WCF that provides youth and adults with the opportunity to learn how to play and understand curling, and they don’t have to go far to do it.

"The WCF brings the sport to their town with the Olympic Celebration Tour. We are pleased to continue supporting the programme’s success and look forward to seeing the interest in curling grow."

The World Curling Federation facilitates the growth and development of curling worldwide. It works closely with and mentors established, new and prospective Member Associations and employs a team of Competitions and Development Officers (CDOs) to run quality programmes, camps, courses and produce resources to aid the growth of the sport. The OCT is a vital part of the CDOs’ work.

For more information, please contact:

Cameron MacAllister

Communications & Media Relations Manager

World Curling Federation

E-mail: media@worldcurling.org

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics iswww.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only