Curling Controversy at the Winter Olympics Escalates
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO — A heated situation in curling emerged at the Winter Olympics on Sunday when stricter match monitoring led to the disqualification of stones thrown by the British men’s team. This neared déjà vu for Canadian athletes who faced similar scrutiny for the second consecutive day.
Scottish curler Bobby Ramey allegedly interfered with a stone following its hit on the ice during the ninth end in a round-robin match against Germany. This incident, described as a “double touch,” goes against the rules. In this match, Great Britain clinched victory with a score of 9-4.
The controversy initially started on Friday night when accusations were directed at the Canadian men’s team by competitors from Sweden. The day after, stones were also taken out during the Canada Women’s versus Switzerland match. A video on social media showcased both Canadian curlers double-touching the rock, although both teams denied any misconduct.
World Curling announced on Saturday their decision to assign two umpires to rotate among the four matches per round, though they emphasized that having an official stationed at every hog line—where stones are manually released—is virtually impossible.
This heightened scrutiny brings with it the potential for increased tensions on the ice. Some curlers have suggested that accusations of double-touching have never been so scrutinized in past events, making it tough to determine whether any violations are genuinely occurring.
It remains unclear if certain teams are under closer watch than others. World Curling stated they do not utilize video replays to assess gameplay.
Prior to Sunday, accusations were primarily focused on Canadian curlers, known for having one of the most fervent fan bases worldwide.
Curling Community Split on Video Replay Use
Opinions among Olympic curlers are divided regarding the implementation of video replays, similar to those used in other sports to resolve disputes.
Johanna Heldin, an alternate on the Swedish women’s team, voiced concerns. “If they introduce it, it might disrupt the flow of the game,” she said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a high level of sportsmanship and adherence to rules.
On the other hand, U.S. women’s curlers seem more favorable. Tara Peterson expressed strong support for video capabilities, suggesting that “instant replay can be huge.” Her sister, Tabitha Peterson, added that many other sports employ this feature effectively.
