International games may go to eight ends
Games could be shortened to eight ends everywhere if body’s proposal is accepted
The face of international curling, which changed dramatically when it became an Olympic sport, may take the first step to changing again here in the next 48 hours.
The World Curling Federation board of governors entered meetings here Wednesday to decide whether to recommend all international play adopt the eight-end five-rock rule used in Canada’s Pinty’s Grand Slam Series events.
Once 14 ends, then 12 and now 10, the current format may be in use for the final time Sunday in the final of the World Men’s Curling Championship.
WCF president Kate Caithness of Scotland telegraphed the changes before the board of governors began two days of meetings.
Recommendations will be made at this session, with the final decision to be made at the WCF Congress in September in Budapest.
“The feedback we’ve been getting is that our games are too long,” Caithness said.
The federation changed the format of the world championship to add a 13th team from Asia and created a six-team playoff system as a result of recommendations made at the Edmonton worlds last year.
“We’re going to talk about going to eight ends. If that’s put on the table, it’ll be voted on in September in Budapest and if approved, all our events would be eight ends for the entire next Olympic cycle,” Caithness said.
Another idea going before the board is the creation of a World Cup.
“It’ll be called the Curling World Cup. The idea is to have four events annually made for TV. Two events would be held in China because China is supplying our sponsors,” she said of the federation, which added China clothing firm 361 Degrees as a world championship title sponsor here this year.
“The first one would be in September in China, the next one would be in December in the USA, the next one would be in Europe in January and the final would be in May in Beijing.
“There would be eight men’s teams, eight women’s teams and eight mixed doubles. It would have a big pot of prize money, but how much I don’t know. We have to get it through the board to finalize it.”
Caithness said points from the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles would be combined.
The WCF boss said she’s still walking on air from curling ’s success at the Olympics.
“Quite frankly, what happened to our sport at the Olympics was beyond our expectations,” Caithness said. “Curling received unprecedented exposure at the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games.
“The success of curling was just outstanding. TV has just gone through the roof. I know NBC was absolutely delighted.
“The one thing that came out of Korea and really exploded the sport was the Garlic Girls from Korea. We’re very happy with the legacy. The venue will remain for 12 months, so people can come and try the sport and it may become a dedicated curling facility.
“The mixed doubles was just fabulous and I’m quietly optimistic we’ll go from eight teams to 16 for the next Olympics.
“We’ve always spoken of the USA as being our sleeping giant. They actually woke up,” she said of John Shuster’s rink winning the men’s gold medal. “Now we can build on it.”
Then there’s China, where the next Winter Olympics will be held.
“They’re going to build 500 ice rinks,” said Caithness, who is lobbying hard to have dedicated curling ice connected to all of them. “Remember the Water Cube swimming venue from the 2008 Olympic Games? It already has a sign on it saying ‘Ice Cube,’” she said of the Beijing 2022 curling facility.
In 2010, when Caithness was elected, the WCF had 40 member nations. Now it has 60. Soon, she said, it will have 80.
EIGHT ENDS
If the World Curling Federation decides to go to eight-end games, will the Brier, Scotties, U.S. nationals, et cetera follow?
Yes, figures Warren Hansen, former events manager of Curling Canada, now a consultant for USA Curling.
“I think for Canada, the USA and all other WCF members, it is hard to go to eight ends unless the WCF does. I think if the WCF makes the move, all other nations will follow quickly. And I think that would be very good news for the future of curling in the USA.”
Hansen has been urging the move for some time.
“I think everything has to be shortened up. The games are too long. The events go on too long. Games need to be eight ends with no extra end in the round robins. Events need to start Tuesday and end Sunday.
“I think embracing mixed doubles and even men’s and women’s doubles is where things need to be heading.
“I compare it to beach volleyball and rugby sevens.”
Quite frankly, what happened to our sport at the Olympics was beyond our expectations.