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On its website, the International Curling Federation, WCF, announces that five championships around the world have been canceled due to the corona pandemic.
“We have worked day and night behind the scenes to organize these competitions, but health and safety always come first. These championships were extremely important for the 2020-2021 season and although we have had to cancel, we believe that we have found a fair solution. to the World Cup qualifier “, writes the association.
The European Championship is one of the canceled championships and should have been organized in Lillehammer on November 21.
Sweden ready for the World Cup
The five competitions would have also acted as a qualifier for WC 2021, something that is now fundamentally changing.
The new ranking system is based in part on the qualification results for the 2019 World Cup and in part on the world rankings. For Sweden, this means that Team Niklas Edin and Team Anna Hasselborg are ready for the World Cup. Sweden won gold on both the men’s and women’s sides at the 2019 European Championships.
– We were hoping to play a championship in Lillehammer, but on the other hand we really respected the decision, says national team captain Anna Hasselborg to TT.
“Exciting to watch”
The corona pandemic has hit curling just as hard as other sports. Both the men’s and women’s WC 2020 were canceled and reloading before WC 2021, which takes place in March (women) and April (men), is special to say the least.
– Grand slam competitions are canceled until 2021. Fall is generally highly canceled. There will be a competition in January, says Anna Hasselborg.
TT: Is it frustrating not being able to compete?
– It is a difficult situation. But many people are going through much more difficult times in a global pandemic, and human health is more important.
It’s the same for everyone, but the risk is that it will affect the best teams that will not be allowed to compete as much before the 2021 World Cup.
– What makes the best teams stand out is often that they have a lot of matches between them before the World Cup. Now all the teams arrive without having played much. It will be exciting to watch and it will be different, says Anna Hasselborg.
Patrik Dokk / TT
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