Curling at the Winter Olympics

Curling at the Winter Olympics: Curling is a team sport, which is contested in various countries of the temperate zone. Curling evolved in Scotland in the 16th century. The sport has much similarity with bowls or bocce. Curling is played on a rectangular sheet of ice, specially prepared for the purpose. Earlier it was played on frozen ponds, lochs and marshes. The stones were taken from the bottom of river. The sport has undergone much development during the 20th century. The stones have been standardized and the indoor refrigerated ice facility has been introduced in curling. Two teams of four players each contest in the curling competition. The aim of the sport is to slide a finely polished granite stones down the ice towards a target, known as "house". Curling involves intricate strategies and precision. For this reason, the sport is often referred as the "chess on ice". The World Curling Federation or the WCF governs the sport at the international level.

Curling in the Winter Games: Curling was in the Olympic schedule at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Games. During the 1932, 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, the sport was held as a demonstration event. After the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, curling has become a regular event at the Winter Games.

The events contested at the Winter Olympics are-

• Men's Tournament
• Women's Tournament

Rules of Curling: The World Curling Federation or the WCF sets rules for curling, which are followed during the international competitions. Some of the rules of the sport are-

• The dimension of the ice-sheet or the rink, on which, the game is played, is determined by the WCF in its rule-book.
• The size and shape of the stones used in curling are specified by the WCF in its rule-book.
• The handle of the stone should be entirely separated from it.
• The players must drive all the sixteen stones in their turn.
• The number of players in a curling team may be four or five. Each member should play the stones.
• Use of any equipment, which can damage the ice surface, is prohibited during the curling competition.
• All the equipments used during the curling competition must be as per the standard set by the WCF and should be approved by the organization.
• If a running stone is touched by any player during the game, it is instantly removed.
• The winner of curling competition is decided on the basis of the number of stones driven by the teams in the house.
• The players are not permitted to use any drug, which can enhance their performing capacity.

Medal winners in Curling: Canada and Switzerland have been dominating the field of curling at international level. Bud Somerville, Bill Strum, Al Gagne, Tom Wright, Bruce Roberts, Joe Roberts, Gary Kleffman, Jerry Scott, Dr. Donald Barcome, Frank Befra, Ann Brown, J. Nelson Brown, Steve Brown, Ted Childs, Bob Christman, Art Cobb, Glenn Gilleshammer, Orvil Gilleshammer, George Godfrey, Robert E. Hardy, Glenn Harris, Harold Lauber, Tom Locken, Harvey Marshall, Hughston McBain, Don McKay, Bob Nichols, Elgie Noble, Nancy Richard, Norman Rickards, Bruce Roberts, Mrs. Bernie Roth, Tom Satrom, Kenneth Sherwood, Ernest Slyziuk, Mike Slyziuk, Bud Somerville, Jim Stephens, Bill Strum, Mary Van Ess and John L. Williamson are some of the leading players in the field of curling.