With the Vancouver Olympics only a few days away curling is enjoying some heightened media and spectator interest. By far the most common question I’m getting in person or via email is the following:
I’m really interested in curling. Is there anywhere in Sydney I can have a go to give it a try? I’d like to try it with friends/colleagues/family/my Scottish friend.
So here is my generic answer to cover the basics.
The short answer is that there isn't any curling in Sydney yet. We can get ice time at one of the local rinks (such as Macquarie Ice Rink) for about $200 an hour, we have insurance, we can get hacks made, and I have access to a lot of brooms.
BUT… what we are missing is the rocks, and somebody to organise all of this. I've been playing on the Australian National Team for the past 9 years - and that is a massive time/cost commitment for me outside of work and family. We are still looking for somebody to really take control and "own" or project manage the logistics/admin of getting the rocks and organising some structured leagues/games/have a go sessions etc.
Interested in volunteering and helping to get it going? If so, please let me know at ipalangio@hotmail.com
Otherwise, please let me know if I can I keep your name in our "Interested curlers" database? I can then let you know when we are getting close to having some curling happening.
And, if you are looking for Curling Coverage on TV for the Olympics – Foxtel has curling scheduled for a lot of coverage including the medal games.
The second most common question I get is:
Why isn’t Australia curling in the Olympics
I have covered this question in the past, so will repeat the content from that blog post http://www.curling.org.au/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=93 here:
Australian Men Miss Olympics by 0.5 Points
After 3 years of playing and competing internationally with the single goal of Olympic qualification for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver …we missed by ½ a point. See the chart below of the standings at the conclusion of this year’s World Championships. The top 10 countries are heading to Vancouver, and we are in 11th.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling_at_the_2010_Winter_Olympics
While we are disappointed, we are very proud of our International achievements over the past few years including:
- 2 Pacific Championships Gold Medals
- 4 straight World Championship appearances
- 6th Place in the World Championships last year
- Medals in the past 2 Karuizawa Winter Festival tournaments
We are now looking forward to this years National Championships to be held in New Zealand, and hopefully qualifying us for representation at the New Zealand Winter Games and the Pacific Championships.
Thank you to everybody who encouraged and supported us over the past few years in a variety of ways, most importantly to our wives and families who had to sacrifice the most while we trained and competed overseas.
Cheers
<Ian Palangio>