22 August 2025
Zhang Hong joins World Curling Board as Independent Director
World Curling welcomes Zhang Hong, from China, to World Curling’s Board as an Independent Director.
Zhang joins the World Curling Board as its second Independent Director, following the addition of Andrew Ryan MBE in June 2025.
As well as being an Olympic champion in Speed Skating, Zhang boasts an accomplished career contributing to the Olympic movement, including most recently chairing the Coordination Commission at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games between 2020 and 2024.
In addition, Zhang brings valuable experience to the World Curling Board as a member of several International Olympic Committee (IOC) commissions, including the Evaluation Commission for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Athletes’ Entourage Commission, the Athletes Commission and the Future Hosts Commission.
She is also a current member of the Olympic Council of Asia’s Advisory Committee, an Executive Board Member of the World Olympians Association (WOA) and a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Following her appointment, Zhang said, “I am truly privileged to take on the role of Independent Director at the World Curling. I am excited to begin working with the team to help shape a bright and sustainable future for the global curling community.”
Beau Welling, World Curling President, said, “World Curling is incredibly honoured to have Zhang Hong join us as our second Independent Director.
“She has competed at the very highest level of sport, served as a valued member of the International Olympic Committee and has a valuable background with Asian multisport winter games.
“I was fortunate to meet and work with Hong when she did an outstanding job chairing the Coordination Commission for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, and I have no doubt she will bring the outside-of-the-box perspective we’re looking for to help us best position World Curling in a constantly changing global sports landscape.”
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