Wheelchair curling

Wheelchair curling is an adaptation of curling for athletes with a disability. Wheelchair curling is governed by the World Curling Federation, and is one of the sports in the Winter Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair curling is played with the same rocks and on the same ice as regular curling, though the rocks are thrown from a stationary wheelchair and there is no sweeping. Rocks may be thrown by hand while leaning over the side of the wheelchair, or pushed by a delivery stick. This is a pole with a bracket that fits over the rock handle, allowing the rock to be pushed while applying correct rotation.

In June 2008 the rule mandating all stones must be touching centre line at the start of delivery was relaxed to allow stones delivered between the house and near hogline to be placed within 18 inched either side of the centre line. This expansion of delivery zone by approximately 6 inches either side of centre, permits wheelchair curling delivery angles closer to those available to regular curlers using the hack. Stones must be released prior to reaching the near hogline.

National and international competitions are played under rules devised by the World Curling Federation. These rules mandate that teams be of mixed gender, and that games be eight ends in duration. Time limits of 68 minutes for each team with one 60 second time out will be enforced by time clocks. Eligibility is limited to people with disabilities so that a wheelchair is used for daily mobility – more specifically, those who are non-ambulant or can walk only very short distances. [Rule 2(g)]

Wheelchair curling can be played by people with a wide range of disabilities. All that is needed is the co-ordination to exert a measured pushing force, and a tolerance for cold. It is not an aerobic activity. Without the need for sweepers, wheelchair curling is well suited to two-person formats such as stick-curling.

Wheelchair curling began in Europe in the late 1990s and in North America in 2002. The first World Wheelchair Curling Championships was held in Sursee, Switzerland in 2002, and was won by the host nation who beat Canada 7 - 6 in the final. It débuted as a Paralympic sport at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Torino. Canada won the gold medal, beating Great Britain 7-4 in the final. GB skip Frank Duffy, with the final stone, had a wide open hit of a Canadian stone in the four foot to win the game, but he missed.

The 2009 World Championships will be held in British Columbia, Canada in the new facility that will also be the curling venue for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

World Wheelchair Curling champions

*2002: SUI (Urs Bucher)
*2004: SCO (Frank Duffy)
*2005: SCO (Frank Duffy)
*2007: NOR (Rune Lorentsen)
*2008: NOR (Rune Lorentsen)

Paralympic champions

*2006: CAN (Chris Daw)

External links

* [http://www.worldcurling.org World Curling Federation]
* [http://www.paralympic.org International Paralympic Committee]
* [http://www.wheelchaircurling.com Wheelchair curling resources]