23 November 2023
The Curl Aberdeen Way
It may not have the space and room of the type of arena that this event is normally played in, but what Curl Aberdeen may lack in size, it certainly makes up for it in providing the warmest of welcomes to the athletes, official and spectators involved in the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2023.
The purpose-built curling venue is hosting the ten women’s and men’s teams of the A-Division (with the B-Division being staged in Perth) and the local curling members have pulled out the stops to try to stage something special and memorable.
Curl Aberdeen Chairman Graham Russell spoke at the Opening Ceremony, and in his remarks, he said simply, “Our ethos is that those who enter our doors are our guests. Whether you be an elite curler or are taking to the ice for the first time, we want all to enjoy the experience, so that when you leave, you do so with a smile and are happy to return. We believe that is the spirit of curling.”
And his fellow club members have been showing that spirit in everything that they have done to put this show on.
Graham says, “We are running this week with a total of 70 volunteers, out of a membership of 450. We’ve got a small professional staff team here, and they’re now running on adrenaline because the oxygen tanks are empty, so we need the support from our volunteers.”
And those volunteers are turning their hands to any of the tasks required to keep the show going. Graham himself is leading by example. When he’s not dressed in his Sunday best for presentations and ceremonies, he’s rolling his sleeves up like everyone else.
“I was involved with the set-up,” he says, “I drive every morning, and I’m in here at 6:00 am emptying all the litter bins.”
Meanwhile Jackie Lockhart, former world champion and Graham’s immediate predecessor as Chair, has been involved in the kitchen, ticket collecting and several other tasks, in between shifts on the microphone commentating for the World Curling Federation’s broadcasts.
“We’re a friendly bunch,” says Graham.
He also took time to explain the reasoning behind Curl Aberdeen’s decision to volunteer to act as hosts, saying, “Following the social lockdown during COVID, there’s been a worrying reduction in the mental health of the nation and a dramatic effect on sports clubs’ finances. Many people have simply gone into isolation, yet social sports like indoor curling have proven time and time again to improve both mental and physical well-being. We hope that this high-profile event, with worldwide coverage, will leave a long-term legacy by inspiring the next generation, of all ages.”
The Curl Aberdeen members involved in the championships are clearly enjoying the experience, but the enthusiasm will go on after the event as well.
Graham says, “While this week we’ve been thrilled to host the very best curlers in Europe, next week we will continue to support curlers of all ages and abilities who have been inspired by this championship.”
Curl Aberdeen’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Canada’s Olympic champion Ryan Fry—who is now coaching the Italian men’s team— took to X to express how impressed he is with the organisation of the event.
Not surprisingly, the hope for the Curl Aberdeen Board is that their members’ efforts this week will yield financial benefit.
Graham looked at that situation too, saying, “I hope Curl Aberdeen will make a surplus from this. Prior to COVID we had £150,000 of savings, two years of COVID and we’ve been wiped out.”
More generally, Graham outlines the long-term benefits that Curl Aberdeen is looking for, “One of our biggest problems is loss of members through the pandemic. We’re trying to show the benefit of a sports club with a good social background to bring people back and to develop the youngsters too.”
Hosting events like this means that Curl Aberdeen members are deprived of their normal use of the ice and Graham is aware of that problem.
“I’m not getting complains yet, but no doubt I’ll find out at the AGM [Annual General Meeting]. But I’ll be able to show the figures to show that we benefit from running an event like this. I hope our members realise that this is important for curling and therefore to the benefit of Curl Aberdeen.
And Graham’s final words?… “This can only be good for the sport.”
Engage with the World Curling Federation during the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2023 on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and by searching the hashtags #curling and #ECC
