Following evaluations by the World Curling Federation Board, several decisions on the remainder of the 2020–2021 season have been approved.
The ongoing implications for international travel and mass gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic required the World Curling Federation to evaluate the viability of each of the upcoming championships in the 2020–2021 season and prioritise the events that were required for Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games qualification.
Olympic Qualifying World Championships
Preparations are underway for the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship 2021 to take place in Schaffhausen, Switzerland from 20–28 March 2021, as originally planned. While the World Men’s Curling Championship 2021 will now be held in Calgary, Alberta in the Curling Canada Hub City from 3–11 April 2021.
The World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2021 is scheduled to take place from 24 April – 1 May 2021 and discussions with a potential host for this championship are underway.
These championships will determine qualification for the three events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Further information about the Olympic Qualification process can be found on here.
Restrictions will be implemented for each championship according to the COVID-19 protocols in place for each host country at that time, and further information on each of these championships will be provided when appropriate.
Event Cancellations and postponements
The newly created World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2021, scheduled to be held in Lohja, Finland in January 2021 has now been cancelled. The championship was set to be the initial step in having the new Wheelchair Curling discipline added to the Paralympic Winter Games programme. Discussions are ongoing on potentially holding this championship in late 2021.
The World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship 2021, also set to take place in Lohja, Finland in January 2021, has been postponed. The championship will now take place from 10–15 April 2021 ensuring teams retain the opportunity to qualify for the recently postponed World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2021.
The World Senior Curling Championships 2021, set to take place in April 2021, have now been cancelled.
World Curling Federation President, Kate Caithness said, “While we are disappointed that we have had to cancel and postpone more of our championships in this difficult season, we must prioritise the championships that will result in qualification for Beijing 2022.
“All of our staff and host partners are working hard behind the scenes in order to ensure that these key championships take place, and we are hopeful that we will have more details that can be shared publicly soon.
“None of our decisions are taken lightly and the health and safety of everyone involved is the most important factor in whether we are able to run our championships during this dreadful pandemic. Despite all of these challenges, we are hopeful that we will all be able to return to the ice soon.”
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