Curling Scandal at Milan-Cortina Olympics Rocks the Ice
A Curling Scandal Rocks Olympic Ice
The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina erupted into controversy when Sweden accused Canada's men's curling team of "double-touching" stones during their Friday match. The accusation—that Canadian curlers were illegally touching stones after releasing them past the hog line—sparked heated exchanges on the ice and viral social media outrage. Marc Kennedy's expletive-laden response drew widespread attention, transforming a niche sport into headline news.
The Escalation
The drama intensified when Canada's women's team faced the same violation call against Switzerland. Skip Rachel Homan protested her innocence, claiming zero chance of contact, yet video replay appeared to show her finger grazing the stone. World Curling responded by deploying additional officials to monitor future matches, fundamentally altering how the sport polices itself during competition.
Questions and Consequences
Kennedy claimed Sweden's accusations were premeditated, alleging the team strategically positioned cameras along the hog line. Sweden's public broadcaster confirmed relocating a camera operator after initial allegations emerged. This scandal raises critical questions about sportsmanship, fairness, and whether Olympic pressure corrupts the sport's traditional integrity and culture.
```About the Organizations Mentioned
World Curling
**World Curling** is the **global governing body** for the Olympic winter sport of curling and the Paralympic winter sport of wheelchair curling[6]. Headquartered in Perth, Scotland, the organization oversees competitions, sets rules, and facilitates the sport's growth worldwide[1]. ## Historical Development The organization's roots trace back to 1966 when the **International Curling Federation (ICF)** was established as a board of trustees of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Perth[1]. This followed the success of the Scotch Cup series, a championship competition between Canada and Scotland[1]. The founding members included Scotland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States[1]. A pivotal moment came in 1982 when the Federation was declared an independent entity and recognized as the world's governing body for curling[3]. In 1990, the organization rebranded to the **World Curling Federation**, and in 2024, it simplified its name to **World Curling**[3]. ## Governance and Operations World Curling operates through a structured governance framework with ultimate authority held by **Member Associations** through General Meetings[2]. The organization is led by a President and Board of Directors elected by member associations, supported by a Secretary General who oversees daily operations[2]. Currently, the organization has **67 member associations**, with Kenya joining most recently in 2021[1]. The federation manages **eight commissions**, including athlete, competition and rules, finance, governance, and sustainability commissions, with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission achieving full status in September 2025[2]. ## Impact and Reach World Curling authorizes fifteen universal curling events annually and operates with a permanent staff of approximately 20 employees[1]. The organization's strategic
