WORLD MASTERS CURLING

NOTE: The above 'moustache curling rock' logo originated with the Ontario Grand Masters ( 70+) Curling Association,

and, has given permission to use it with this blog and associated Facebook page.

UPDATED: 5th June, 2015.
- The World Curling Federation's Competition and Rules Commission is to prepare a report on this project for presentation at the 4th World Curling Congress in Belgrade on 2-5th, 2015. SEE MORE INFORMATION BELOW UNDER THIS DATE.

MISSION STATEMENT:

This blog is designed to address two specific issues, and have them placed before the 4th World Curling Congress and Annual General Assembly of the World Curling Federation (WCF). That conference is scheduled to be convened in Belgrade, Serbia from 2nd - 5th September 2015.

Those matters involve (i) use of a curling delivery stick by elderly players in WCF qualifying and championship events, and, (ii) holding an annual WCF-sponsored world masters curling championship ( i.e. for aged 60+ players ). In some countries masters curlers are known as "Veterans". [ * This particular Masters Curling is not meant to be confused with 'masters' events of the highly competitive World Curling Tour ].

Research on use of delivery sticks and the masters topic was undertaken by this individual during autumn, 2014. As a direct result of that project, a three-paged document of relevant information was forwarded in late February, 2015 to (i) every pertinent officer of the World Curling Federation, (ii) all 53 national member associations of the WCF, and (iii ) every Masters (60+) and Grand Masters (70+) curling organisation in Scotland, Switzerland, and the 13 provincial and territorial regions of Canada.

In summary of that three-paged document, the following observations are conveyed herein:

USE OF CURLING DELIVERY STICK:

Rule 10(f)(i) of WCF Rules of Curling restricts use of a delivery stick from all WCF qualifying or championship events, except in wheelchair events.
Outside wheelchair events, most people who use a delivery stick are aging players to suit their personal requirements, rather than their stop participating in the game. They generally cannot qualify as wheelchair curlers.
Use of a delivery stick by elderly players with physical shortcomings does not necessarily facilitate 'advantage' over other players. Its use compensates for physical ' disadvantage' thereby placing older players closer to a level playing field of more physically capable players.
Rule 10(f)((i) does not intentionally, knowingly or directly promote ageism. But, it could be interpreted as indirectly encouraging ageism and unwittingly excluding many elderly players from WCF competitions.
This negative impression, no matter how subliminal it may be, does not appear to conform with the direction of international charters relating to older participants in sports, as well as in society generally.
They include:

Fundamental Principles of Olympic Charter ( Page 11, Para. 4 ).
Articles 1.1 & 1.3 of the UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sports ( Paris, 1978).
Part 2, Paragraph 19 of the United Nations International Plan of Action on Aging ( Madrid, 2002 ).

Over 70 Curler Using Delivery Stick

SENIORS (50+), MASTERS(60+), and, GRAND MASTERS (70+) CURLING

In WCF Seniors national qualifying and world curling championships, 60+, 70+ and 80+ players are included in this 'seniors' category. Most 50-59 year old curlers are not 'seniors' in a practical meaning of the word, their still being an active part of the labour force and in good general health on average. There are fewer 60+ elderly curlers in this general 'seniors' classification as players grow older. When age gradually creeps higher, a considerable number of 60-80+ curlers often have extra personal physical requirements, such as using a delivery stick, to help them continue playing the game.
Three countries ( Scotland, Switzerland and Canada ) is where most national Masters (60+) Curling Championships take place. All ten of Canada's provinces and three territories hold their own area Masters Championships. Two Provinces ( British Columbia and Ontario ) convene Grand Masters (70+) Curling Championships. The delivery stick is allowed in all of these events.
Most 'masters' curlers are residents of the three above-named countries. The Swiss Veterans/Masters Curling Association informs me that it comprises 2500 registered curlers. Scotland's governing body ( Royal Caledonian Curling Club ) offers no figures about 60+ players amongst its ranks. Nonetheless, a rough estimate would probably be about 15% of the 13,000 RCCC members. According to 2014 statistics of "Profile of the Canadian Curler" on the Canadian Curling Association's website, 17% of that country's over 700,000 curlers ( i.e. casual, occasional, and regular players ) are past 60 - 65 years of age.
Countries like the United States and long-standing curling nations of Northern Europe appear to have adequate numbers of curlers past 60 years of age. Some parts of the USA hold regional Masters Championships. In February, 2015 Norway held its first National Masters (aged 62+) Curling Championship comprising eight teams. The oldest participant was 89 years of age. Norway's national television network covered the event to show significance of curling as a sports activity for an aging population.
Most other curling countries have quite small numbers of players beyond 60. Many curling countries have none at all, given their more recent introduction to the game.
An inaugural World Masters Curling Championship ( for players over 60 ) could easily draw teams from 10 countries. Perhaps a few more ! One must remember that the first World Seniors Curling Championship in 2002 attracted only 7 men and 4 women teams. Twelve years later at the 2014 event in Dumfries, Scotland, 25 male and 15 female teams participated.

PROPOSALS:

That the WCF place the following two items on agenda for reasonable discussion and decision at the 2nd-5th September, 2015 World Curling Congress and Annual General Assembly in Belgrade, Serbia :

That Rule10(f)(i) be amended to permit curling delivery sticks at WCF qualifying and championship events not only in wheelchair curling, but also be an option for players 60 years of age and older in the WCF Seniors (50+) championships category, as well as in WCF Masters 60+ qualifying or championship events ( if such WCF events are ever convened in future ).
That the World Curling Federation consider an annual open World Masters(60+) Curling Championship for players 60 years of age and older. They would involve regular 4-member teams of men or women, with players having option of using traditional sliding delivery, or, being allowed to use a delivery stick. The inaugural event could start in autumn, 2017 and annually held conveniently alongside the World Mixed Curling Championships time and venue, thereupon limited costs of having a Masters Championship. A similar arrangement has worked well for both the Seniors and Mixed Doubles World Curling Championships being held together.

UPDATE ON 20th MARCH, 2015.

From 20th February - 20th March, 2015 this blog received 2,268 page views from people in 38 of the 53 World Curling Federation membership countries. The top ten countries, with more than 50 page views, are:

Canada: 329
United Kingdom: 296
United States of America: 254
Switzerland: 203
Sweden: 169
Norway: 134
Germany: 98
Japan: 76
Russia: 65
Finland: 51

Other 28 countries combined: 1 - 43 page views = 593

Thus, all committee members of the national curling associations in these ten countries have been encouraged to write to the World Curling Federation before 15th May, 2015 asking for proposals expressed in this blog be placed on agenda for discussion at the 4th World Curling Congress, 2nd-5th September, 2015 in Belgrade, Serbia.

On 17th April, 2015 a further request was made to all 50 voting national association members of the WCF. It requested a simple motion to be listed at 4th World Curling Congress to allow WCF Competition and Rules Commission to thoroughly research the two topics during 2015-2016 curling season for a deliberation at the 5th World Curling Congress and AGM in September, 2016 ( location yet to be determined ).

If no associations have made suggestion to WCF Secretariat by deadline of 15th May, 2015, other legitimate options will be examined to achieve goal of having World Masters Curling and use of delivery stick at a future World Curling Congress and AGM.

On 5th June, 2015 the World Curling Federation's Secretariat in Perth, Scotland informed me that proposals expressed in this blog were being examined and discussed by the WCF Competition and Rules Commission over the summer months. The purpose of this process is to prepare feedback for a report to all 50 voting WCF national member curling associations at the 4th World Curling Congress (WCC) and AGM in Belgrade, Serbia on 2nd-5th September, 2015.

I will be updated on results of that report being presenting at WCC by the WCF Secretariat just after the WCC ends. That information will be posted in this blog at that time, as well as on the World Masters 60+ Curling Championships Facebook page.

Relevant information could possibly be mentioned in 'news' pages of World Curling Federation website as well as perhaps in the WCF News Letter during September, 2015.
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PERSONAL CURLING BACKGROUND:

Now in my 72nd year, I curled regularly in league play and championships from 1953-1965 ( i.e. between 9-21 years of age ). That took place at Canadian air force bases (Zweibrucken, Germany and Marville, France ) and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
I left Canada in 1965, not curling again for 42 years. I returned to curling in 2007 as at England's lone curling facility ( Fenton's Rink in Kent ), south of London. Old injuries, artificial joints and arthritis gradually compelled me to use a delivery stick rather than quit the game. I am a full member of the English Curling Association as well as Dumfries Ice Bowl Curling Association in Scotland ( Royal Caledonian Curling Club - RCCC ). I curl predominantly in Scotland, England and Switzerland - having also played at tournaments in several other European countries since coming back to the game in 2007.