Scotland to stage 2019 World Wheelchair Curling Championships

23.12.2014

The event will be one of four major events Scotland will stage between 2016 and 2020.

Canada celebrate after winning gold against Russia in wheelchair curling at Sochi 2014. © • Getty Images

By ICF

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and we are in the enviable position of having some truly world-renowned venues, which attract major one-off events and Championships. "

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced that Stirling will host the 2019 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, one of four major international curling championships Scotland will stage between 2016 and 2020.

In addition to hosting the biggest wheelchair curling event outside of the Paralympic Winter Games, Scotland will also stage the 2016 European Curling Championships at the Braehead Arena in Renfrewshire, the 2018 World Junior Curling Championships in Aberdeen and the World Men’s Curling Championship in 2020 at the newly built SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Speaking about the agreement, WCF President Kate Caithness said: “We are delighted to confirm this multiple host agreement with Scotland. Securing all four locations is a massive boost to the sport, not only internationally but particularly within Scotland as they look to build on interest in curling generated around the time of the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Following on from the double host awards to Esbjerg in Denmark and Lohja, Finland, this form of multiple event bidding is becoming increasingly popular amongst our Member Associations and is proving to be an attractive proposition for the World Curling Federation.”

She continued: “We will be working hard with Scotland’s Royal Caledonian Curling Club, event partners and the four organising committees over the next few years to ensure all of these events are a success. We hope that you can join us for one or all of these upcoming championships in Scotland, the home of curling.”

Speaking of the announcement, Jamie Hepburn, Scottish Government Sports Minister, said: “In 2014, Scottish curlers had phenomenal success on the world stage, particularly winning medals at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi. So it’s tremendous news that from 2016 Scotland will host four of the world’s major curling events in our world class facilities. Hosting these events will raise the profile of the sport and give our curlers a huge opportunity to compete in front of their enthusiastic and patriotic fans here in Scotland, the home of curling, which I hope will encourage more people try their hand at this wonderful sport.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland was also pleased that Scotland has secured these four curling championships. He said: “Major events play a key role in Scottish tourism and our world-leading approach has put us at the forefront of this global industry. Securing one event is always a big deal, but to secure four at the same time with a global appeal such as curling is an incredible feat.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and we are in the enviable position of having some truly world-renowned venues, which attract major one-off events and Championships. These new events compliment our existing and ever-growing portfolio through to 2020, and will provide a platform to drive domestic and international tourism, while delivering significant economic impacts for Scotland.”

This latest host award notice follows similar agreements already in place with Esbjerg in Denmark which was awarded the European Curling Championships 2015 and World Women’s Curling Championship 2019 and Lohja in Finland which will host the World Wheelchair Curling Qualification event 2015 and the World Junior-B Curling Championships 2016. This is in addition to the ongoing relationship between the WCF and the Canadian Curling Association that sees Canada host the men’s then women’s World Curling Championship in alternate years.

Scotland has hosted several international curling championships in the past, most recently the World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships 2014 in Dumfries.

Perth played host to the World Junior Curling Championships in 2011 while Aberdeen held the Le Gruyere European Curling Championships in 2009.

Scotland has not hosted a men’s World Championship since 2000 when Canada’s Greg McAulay won the world title in Braehead. That same location held the World Wheelchair Curling Championship the last time it was in Scotland, in 2005.