Creating a legacy for curling in China

Members of the World Curling Federation, and its partner the World Academy of Sport, the Chinese Curling Association and the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, plus other stakeholders gathered at Beijing’s Shougang Park in April for the first Chinese Curling Association workshop of its kind.

The workshop focused on how to develop curling and maximise its exposure in China in the coming years, leading up to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2022. The workshop sought to look at ways to increase participation and to improve the quality of the game from the grassroots level to elite curling. Also, it was arranged to play a part in China’s drive to have 300 million people involved in winter sports by the time the Games come around.

New programmes and activities are already underway through governmental, education and various sport organisations to familiarize Chinese people with curling. Particular focus is being placed on getting the sport into schools across China.

“The upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Beijing presents an unprecedented opportunity for curling to reach a large population of people, many of those who are being exposed to curling for the first time,” said Scott Arnold, World Curling’s Head of Development.

“With the help of our new partner, the World Academy of Sport and the Chinese Curling Association, we were able to bring a large number of stakeholders together to lay the groundwork for such development. A lot of work lies ahead of us but I am confident curling will benefit from this inaugural workshop.”

Moving forward, the Chinese Curling Association hopes to introduce curling to more schools, implement transition programmes such as ’Learn2Curl’ and open more curling facilities.

In a further boost for curling in China, Bingyu Wang, the 2009 World Women’s champion and Olympic bronze medallist, has been appointed as Sports Manager for curling at the Games.

With less than 1,000 days to go, the countdown is well and truly on for Beijing 2022.

You can follow the work of the World Curling Federation on Twitter, Instagram (@worldcurling) and Facebook (@WorldCurlingFederation) and by searching the hashtag #curling