It’s game on for women’s worlds
The world women’s curling championship is back on the calendar.
The event has been added to the list of bonspiels that will be held in the Calgary bubble at the Markin MacPhail Centre. Competition is set for April 30 to May 9, the World Curling Federation said Friday in a release.
The world championship was originally scheduled for March 19 to 28 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. That plan was scrubbed last month after Swiss health authorities declined to provide permission because of COVID-19 concerns.
The Canadian women’s curling championship kicked off play last month in a spectatorfree, controlled environment at WinSport Arena on the grounds of Canada Olympic Park. Kerri Einarson’s Manitoba-based team repeated as Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and will represent Canada at the worlds.
“I feel absolutely amazing, I’ve heard rumours about this and I just didn’t want to get my hopes up,” Einarson said on a Zoom call with the media. “So to finally get a confirmation that it’s a go-ahead, it feels so unbelievable.”
The addition of the worlds brings the list of curling bubble events to seven. The Canadian men’s championship began Friday night and runs through March 14.
The Tim Hortons Brier will be followed by the 5 Canadian mixed doubles playdowns (March 18 to 25), the men’s world championship (April 2 to 11) and two Grand Slam events.
Many top international women’s teams will already be in Calgary ahead of the worlds to play in the Slams. The Champions Cup is set for April 14 to 18, while the Players’ Championship will be played April 20 to 25.
The world women’s championship serves as the main qualifier for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The top six will earn berths at the Games. The 14-team field includes host Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, the U.S. and defending champion Switzerland.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement to hold the LGT world women’s curling championship in the Calgary bubble,” WCF president Kate Caithness said in a statement. “This is a vitally important championship for Olympic qualification.
“We are extremely grateful to Curling Canada and all our stakeholders for their willingness to work together, and at such short notice, to ensure that qualification for Beijing 2022 happens on the ice and in competition.”