Curling 2020 - 2021 Discussion Thread

[intoronto 6,904]

Looks like both Worlds next year will be moved to a bubble in Calgary...

[intoronto 6,904]

 will be debuting in the mixed world events next year

[Olympian1010 8,301]

On 12/12/2020 at 07:46, intoronto said:

 will be debuting in the mixed world events next year

Some background.

 

[Monzanator 5,123]

Well, Portugal is non-existent in winter sports so they might as well field some Canadians in curling. Half of the world is fielding Chinese in table tennis so we've been there before

[NearPup 4,183]

14 hours ago, Monzanator said:

Well, Portugal is non-existent in winter sports so they might as well field some Canadians in curling. Half of the world is fielding Chinese in table tennis so we've been there before

Russia toyed with that idea but ultimately fast track citizenship didn't come through. Jason Gunnlaugson, ultimately the 2013 Canadian Olympic trials runner-up, came very close to representing Russia at the 2014 Olympics.

 

Actually, my home state, Texas, once won the American women's curling championship with a team made up of Canadian expats.

[Monzanator 5,123]

1 hour ago, NearPup said:

Russia toyed with that idea but ultimately fast track citizenship didn't come through. Jason Gunnlaugson, ultimately the 2013 Canadian Olympic trials runner-up, came very close to representing Russia at the 2014 Olympics.

 

Actually, my home state, Texas, once won the American women's curling championship with a team made up of Canadian expats.

 

At least Viktor Ahn did quite well for Russia in 2014

 

And people are criticizing when Kenyans or Ethiopians are representing Qatar or Bahrain I really hate those double standards and hypocrisy.

 

The best Polish female table tennis player - Li Qian - is obviously from China as well

[NearPup 4,183]

12 minutes ago, Monzanator said:

 

At least Viktor Ahn did quite well for Russia in 2014

 

And people are criticizing when Kenyans or Ethiopians are representing Qatar or Bahrain I really hate those double standards and hypocrisy.

 

The best Polish female table tennis player - Li Qian - is obviously from China as well

In sports that are dominated by a single country or a very small number of countries I am actually very okay with seeing those questionable nationality change, and honestly if Canadian curling pros start getting poached by other countries it would make international competitions more interesting. The Qatari and Bahraini long distance runners do add to the spectacle, even if their presence feels a little artificial.

 

Ahn, IMO, was pretty justified in changing nationality. His national federation didn’t want him anymore, so in his mind it was clearly a choice between going elsewhere or retiring.

 

Both the men’s and women’s number 1 Canadian table tennis players were born in China, too (Mo Zhang and Eugene Wang). 

[Monzanator 5,123]

38 minutes ago, NearPup said:

In sports that are dominated by a single country or a very small number of countries I am actually very okay with seeing those questionable nationality change, and honestly if Canadian curling pros start getting poached by other countries it would make international competitions more interesting. The Qatari and Bahraini long distance runners do add to the spectacle, even if their presence feels a little artificial.

 

Ahn, IMO, was pretty justified in changing nationality. His national federation didn’t want him anymore, so in his mind it was clearly a choice between going elsewhere or retiring.

 

Both the men’s and women’s number 1 Canadian table tennis players were born in China, too (Mo Zhang and Eugene Wang). 

 

Low-hanging fruits are always going to be exposed. Curling is a low-hanging fruit. The problem will only become real if we have Canadians competing in European Championships and driving out true Europeans - unless they expand the number of teams. It's never a good thing when we're gonna have more Canadians than Europeans at the European Championships

[Vojthas 949]

There was a chance for a Portuguese curler in a Polish league, but he decided to drop out curling just ahead of the postponement of the league.

[Olympian1010 8,301]

Nigeria is having an honest go at Curling it seems 

Quote

Curling has also been growing in Nigeria since it became a member association of the World Curling Federation in 2018.

 

Nigeria has competed in major international events including the World Mixed Doubles Championship and the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, and continues to be Africa's only recognised curling nation, with 900 curlers registered nationwide.

 

The Nigeria Curling Federation has also worked with the nation's Ministry of Sport to have curling introduced to the national curriculum at schools and universities.

 

A dedicated curling facility is currently under construction in Calabar, the capital of the Cross River State. 

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1102403/noc-grants-federations-full-recognition