February 1, 2022 – Theme Week Day 2

We’re continuing our theme week on Winter Olympic Sports today with Curling! Curling consists of 2 teams of 4, which take turns sliding heavy granite rocks (also called stones) down the ice curling sheet toward a large circular target (also called a house). Points are scored for the stones closest to the target. The path of the stone can be influenced by 2 sweepers with brooms, who sweep the ice in front of the stone as it travels down the ice. Because of the amount of strategy and teamwork that are involved in the sport, curling is nicknamed “chess on ice”. Aside from the strategy, good sportsmanship often called the “Spirit of Curling”, is an integral part of the sport. The Spirit of Curling encourages teams to congratulate their opponents and never cheering their mistakes or misses. Teams should also not celebrate their own good shots too overtly, beyond modest acknowledgment like a head nod or fist bump. Curling was included in the inaugural Winter Olympic Games in 1924, but wasn’t part of the official Olympic program until the 1998 Nagano games. Our neighbors to the north are avid curlers – by some estimates, 90% of the world’s curlers live in Canada! Learn more here.