20 November 2024
World Women’s organisers learning in Lohja
While most of the spectators at the Le Gruyère AOP European Championships 2024 in Lohja were there to support their own teams, there was one group who were taking a special interest in the set-up of the event itself. More specifically, the workings of the local organisers and the various World Curling event and broadcast specialists.
Hong Eungyul and Lee Jiyoon are two members of a Korean delegation that came to Lohja to watch and learn about all aspects of organising a curling championship. Eungyul works for the Korea Curling Federation, while Jiyoon is Sports Manager of the local organising committee of the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship 2025 in Uijeongbu, Korea starting on 15 March.
Looking ahead to Uijeongbu
The competition will take place in the Uijeongbu Arena, which has a spectator capacity of just under 1,000. Jiyoon added, “There is a cafeteria for spectators and others in the complex, and as well as the competition ice rink, there is also a curling club.”
This is the first time an international curling event will be held in Uijeongbu, but this will be the second World Women’s Curling Championship to be staged in Korea – previously the 2009 event was staged in Gangneung. Altogether, Korea has hosted 13 World Curling championships, as well as the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games. Most recently, Korea hosted the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2024 and World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2024 in Gangneung.
This event’s organising committee is keen to tap into the knowledge and experience built up over these events by Korean officials and volunteers, as Jiyoon confirmed, “We have a lot of people with experience of working at previous curling events. We will also have a lot of local volunteers.”
Uijeongbu sits to the north of Seoul and, unlike places like Gangneung and Gangwon, is within striking distance of the capital itself, as Eungyul confirmed, “Staying in Seoul could work. It’ll take about an hour to get there.”
Jiyoon also confirmed that “It will be straightforward to get in and out of Seoul, by bus or subway.”
While the athletes’ hotel has already been confirmed, there are plans to have more nearby hotel rooms available. However, this depends on a refurbishment project being completed in time.
One unique aspect of this event is that, as well as world competition, there are plans for the culmination of a national floor curling competition, with the grand finals of a large national championship taking place during the world championship. Curling is flourishing in Korea, and floor curling has become an effective introduction to the sport for many.
Eungyul said, “Winter sports are becoming more popular in Korea. After the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games, Team Kim made everyone in Korea aware of curling. This will be the last event to qualify direct for the 2026 Games, so everyone will be watching.”
Both Jiyoon and Eungyul confirm that their fact-finding mission to Finland has been useful. As it happens, Laura Mutch, who is the World Curling Technical Delegate at the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 in Lohja is also performing the same role in Uijeongbu, so some useful connections have been made.
Jiyoon said, “We have learned a lot by coming here. There is a lot of experience in Korea, but we have picked up a lot of information while we’ve been here.”
Meanwhile, Laura confirmed, “It’s been really useful having a Korean delegation here. They are really willing to listen and learn, and I’m sure we’ll all see the benefits when we get to Uijeongbu.”
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