Curling's Official Protocol in Spotlight: Canada-Sweden Match at the Milano-Cortina Olympics
The recent men's curling match between Canada and Sweden at the Milano-Cortina Olympics has sparked debate over the handling of a double-touching complaint. Despite the intense atmosphere and heated exchanges, World Curling asserts that official protocol was followed throughout the game.
The incident occurred during Canada's 8-6 victory over Sweden on Friday, with tensions running high and players' microphones picking up profanity. After the game, Swedish player Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian players of second-touching the stone, an action that can significantly impact the game's outcome. This accusation led to a heated exchange between Eriksson and Canadian vice Marc Kennedy, who responded with a few choice words.
World Curling's communications head, Chris Hamilton, addressed the situation in an email, stating that the issue of second touches was brought to the umpire's attention. The officials then spoke with both teams and set up game umpires at the hog line to monitor deliveries for three ends, adhering to the official protocol for such complaints. Hamilton confirmed that no hog-line violations or retouches of the stone occurred during this observation period.
Curling, a sport without instant replay, relies on players and umpires to resolve issues on the fly. Umpires are positioned at the end of the sheet and can be consulted as needed. While profanity is not uncommon in curling, with players occasionally using colorful language, the use of microphones amplifies the impact of such exchanges.
The Canadian men's team is set to return to the ice on Saturday afternoon, facing off against Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller. The match promises to be another intense encounter, with the team's performance under scrutiny following the recent controversy.
