World Curling facts for kids
 |
|
| Formation | 1966 (as International Curling Federation) |
|---|---|
| Type | Sports federation |
| Headquarters | Perth, Scotland |
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Membership
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73 member associations |
|
Official language
|
English |
| Beau Welling | |
|
Staff
|
20 |
| Website | worldcurling.org |
World Curling is the main organization that manages the sport of curling around the world. It has offices in Perth, Scotland. It used to be called the World Curling Federation (WCF). Before that, it was the International Curling Federation (ICF). The name changed to World Curling in 2024.
This organization started in 1966 as the International Curling Federation (ICF). It grew from a group within the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Scotland. This happened after the Scotch Cup championships, which were very popular. At first, it included curling groups from Scotland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
World Curling now approves and organizes many international curling events. It is run by a Board of Directors, which includes a president and three vice-presidents. These leaders are supported by a team of 20 staff members. There are 74 curling groups from different countries that are members of World Curling. The newest members in 2023 were Pakistan, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Monaco joined in 2024.
In March 2022, World Curling stopped the Russian Curling Federation from competing. This decision was made because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Contents
What World Curling Does
World Curling has an important mission. Their goal is to lead the global curling community. They do this by promoting and growing the sport. They also share the culture and values of curling.
Here are the main things World Curling aims to do:
- To represent curling around the world.
- To help the sport grow in all countries.
- To encourage teamwork among member groups.
- To bring curlers from everywhere together.
- To protect and improve the sport of curling.
- To organize world curling competitions.
- To create the rules for world curling events.
Member Countries
World Curling has many member associations from different countries. These groups help manage curling in their own regions. They also take part in international events.
Here is a list of countries that are members of World Curling:
| Year | Name | Country | World Curling zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Afghanistan Curling Federation |  Afghanistan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1991 | Andorra Curling Association |  Andorra |
Europe |
| 1986 | Australian Curling Federation |  Australia |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1982 | Österreichischer Curling Verband |  Austria |
Europe |
| 1997 | Belarusian Curling Association |  Belarus |
Europe |
| 2005 | Belgian Curling Association |  Belgium |
Europe |
| 2020 | Bolivian Curling Federation |  Bolivia |
Americas |
| 2022 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Curling Association |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Europe |
| 1998 | Brazilian Ice Sports Federation |  Brazil |
Americas |
| 2013 | Bulgarian Curling Federation |  Bulgaria |
Europe |
| 1966 | Curling Canada |  Canada |
Americas |
| 2002 | Chinese Curling Association |  China |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1998 | Chinese Taipei Curling Federation |  Chinese Taipei |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2004 | Croatian Curling Association |  Croatia |
Europe |
| 1990 | Czech Curling Association |  Czechia |
Europe |
| 1971 | Danish Curling Association |  Denmark |
Europe |
| 2019 | Dominican Republic winter sports federation |  Dominican Republic |
Americas |
| 1971 | English Curling Association |  England |
Europe |
| 2003 | Estonian Curling Association |  Estonia |
Europe |
| 1979 | Finnish Curling Association |  Finland |
Europe |
| 1966 | French Ice Sports Federation |  France |
Europe |
| 2013 | Georgian Curling Federation |  Georgia |
Europe |
| 1967 | Deutscher Curling-Verband |  Germany |
Europe |
| 2003 | Hellenic Curling Association |  Greece |
Europe |
| 2016 | Guyana Curling Federation |  Guyana |
Americas |
| 2014 | Curling Sports Federation of Hong Kong China |  Hong Kong, China |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1989 | Hungarian Curling Federation |  Hungary |
Europe |
| 1991 | Icelandic Sport Federation |  Iceland |
Europe |
| 2019 | Curling Federation of India |  India |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2003 | Irish Curling Association |  Ireland |
Europe |
| 2013 | Israel Curling Federation |  Israel |
Europe |
| 1972 | Italian Ice Sports Federation |  Italy |
Europe |
| 2022 | Curling Jamaica |  Jamaica |
Americas |
| 1985 | Japan Curling Association |  Japan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2003 | Kazakhstan Curling Association |  Kazakhstan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2021 | Kenya Curling Federation |  Kenya |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1994 | Korean Curling Association |  Korea |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2012 | Kosovo Curling Federation |  Kosovo |
Europe |
| 2019 | Kuwait Winter Games Club |  Kuwait |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2017 | Curling Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic |  Kyrgyzstan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2001 | Latvian Curling Association |  Latvia |
Europe |
| 1991 | Liechtenstein Curling Association |  Liechtenstein |
Europe |
| 2003 | Lithuanian Curling Association |  Lithuania |
Europe |
| 1976 | Curling Luxembourg |  Luxembourg |
Europe |
| 2024 | Monegasque Skating Federation |  Monaco |
Europe |
| 2016 | Federacion Mexicana de Curling |  Mexico |
Americas |
| 2012 | Mongolian Curling Federation |  Mongolia |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1975 | Netherlands Curling Association |  Netherlands |
Europe |
| 1991 | New Zealand Curling Association |  New Zealand |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2018 | Nigeria Curling Federation |  Nigeria |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1966 | Norwegian Curling Association |  Norway |
Europe |
| 2023 | Pakistan Curling Federation |  Pakistan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2023 | Curling Pilipinas |  Philippines |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2022 | Polish Curling Clubs Federation |  Poland |
Europe |
| 2017 | Winter Sports Federation of Portugal |  Portugal |
Europe |
| 2023 | Puerto Rico Curling Association |  Puerto Rico |
Americas |
| 2014 | Qatar Curling Federation |  Qatar |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2010 | Romanian Curling Federation |  Romania |
Europe |
| 1992 | Russian Curling Federation |  Russia |
Europe |
| 2017 | Kingdom Curling Association |  Saudi Arabia |
Pacific-Asia |
| 1966 | Royal Caledonian Curling Club |  Scotland |
Europe |
| 2005 | National Curling Association of Serbia |  Serbia |
Europe |
| 2003 | Slovak Curling Association |  Slovakia |
Europe |
| 2010 | Slovenian Curling Association |  Slovenia |
Europe |
| 1999 | Spanish Ice Sports Federation |  Spain |
Europe |
| 1966 | Swedish Curling Association |  Sweden |
Europe |
| 1966 | Swiss Curling Association |  Switzerland |
Europe |
| 2022 | Thai Curling Association |  Thailand |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2009 | Turkish Ice Skating Federation |  Türkiye |
Europe |
| 2020 | Curling Federation of Turkmenistan |  Turkmenistan |
Pacific-Asia |
| 2013 | Ukrainian Curling Federation |  Ukraine |
Europe |
| 1966 | United States Curling Association |  United States of America |
Americas |
| 1991 | US Virgin Islands Curling Association |  U.S. Virgin Islands |
Americas |
| 1982 | Welsh Curling Association |  Wales |
Europe |
Past Member Countries
Some countries were once members of World Curling. Here are a few examples:
| Years | Name | Country | WCF zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2014 | Armenia Curling Federation |  Armenia |
Europe |
| 2003–2021 | Polish Curling Association | Poland |
Europe |
Who Leads World Curling?
The leaders of World Curling are part of the Executive Board. They help make important decisions for the sport.
Here are the current leaders as of June 2024:
- President: Beau Welling (from the United States)
- Vice Presidents:
- Graham Prouse (from Canada)
- Hugh Millikin (from Australia)
- Board of Directors:
- Kim Forge (from Australia)
- Helena Lingham (from Sweden)
- Sergio Mitsuo Vilela (from Brazil)
- Robin Niven (from Scotland)
- Toyo Ogawa (from Japan)
- Athlete Commission Chair: Jill Officer (from Canada)
Former Presidents
Many important people have led World Curling over the years. Here are some of the past presidents:
| President | Member association | Years in office |
|---|---|---|
| Presidents of the ICF (International Curling Federation) | ||
| Major Allan Cameron | Scotland | 1966–1969 |
| Brigadier Colin A. Campbell | Canada | 1969–1979 |
| Sven A. Eklund | Sweden | 1979–1982 |
| G. Clifton Thompson | Canada | 1982–1985 |
| Philip Dawson | Scotland | 1985–1988 |
| Dr. Donald F. Barcome | United States | 1988–1990 |
| Presidents of the WCF (World Curling Federation) | ||
| Günther Hummelt | Austria | 1990–2000 |
| Roy Sinclair | Scotland | 2000–2006 |
| Les Harrison | Canada | 2006–2010 |
| Kate Caithness | Scotland | 2010–2022 |
Curling Competitions
World Curling organizes many exciting curling events around the globe. These events bring together the best curlers from different countries.
| Event | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Major International Championships | |
| Olympic Winter Games (OWG) | For ten men's, women's, and mixed doubles teams. |
| Paralympic Winter Games (PWG) | For ten mixed teams and eight mixed doubles teams. |
| Youth Olympic Games (YOG) | For twenty-four mixed teams and forty-eight mixed doubles teams. |
| World Men's Curling Championship (WMCC) | For thirteen men's teams. |
| World Women's Curling Championship (WWCC) | For thirteen women's teams. |
| World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (WMDCC) | For twenty mixed doubles teams. |
| World Wheelchair Curling Championship (WWhCC) | For twelve mixed teams. |
| World Junior Curling Championships (WJCC) | For ten junior men's and ten junior women's teams. |
| World Mixed Curling Championship (WMxCC) | Any member country can enter one team. |
| World Senior Curling Championships (WSCC) | Any member country can enter one team for men and one for women. Players must be at least 50 years old. |
| Events to Qualify for Championships | |
| Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) | For teams that have played in World Curling Championships but have not yet qualified for the Olympic Winter Games. |
| World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event (WMDQE) | For mixed doubles teams that have not yet qualified for the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. |
| World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship (WWhBCC) | For mixed teams that have not yet qualified for the World Wheelchair Curling Championship. |
| World Junior-B Curling Championships (WJBCC) | For junior men's and women's teams that have not yet qualified for the World Junior Curling Championships. |
| Regional Championships | |
| European Curling Championships (ECC) | For men's and women's teams from the European zone. |
| Pan Continental Curling Championships (PCCC) | For men's and women's teams from the Pan Continental Zone. This event started in the 2022-23 season. |
| Past Events | |
| Curling World Cup | This event had three stages and a Grand Final for men's, women's, and mixed doubles teams. |
| Pacific-Asia Junior Curling Championships (PJCC) | This was for junior men's and women's teams from the Pacific Zone. It helped teams qualify for the WJCC. It was replaced by the World Junior-B Curling Championships. |
| European Junior Curling Challenge (EJCC) | This was for junior men's and women's teams from Europe who had not yet qualified for WJCC. It was replaced by the World Junior-B Curling Championships. |
| Americas Challenge | This was for men's and women's teams from the Americas zone. It was replaced by the Pan-Continental Curling Championship. |
| Pacific-Asia Curling Championships (PACC) | This was for men's and women's teams from the Pacific-Asia zone. It was replaced by the Pan-Continental Curling Championship. |
| World Qualification Event (WQE) | This event was for men's and women's teams that had not yet qualified for the World Curling Championships. |
See also
In Spanish: Federación Mundial de Curling para niños
- World Curling Rankings
- WCF Hall of Fame
