World Curling plans to hold women's worlds in the United Arab Emirates
Unprecedented for host of a world championship not be named by this point
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host → plan → point
With the curling season fully underway and the clock ticking down to world-championship season in March, World Curling has confirmed that it plans to hold the women’s world championship, slated for mid-March, in the United Arab Emirates.
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it → tick → Emirates
CBC Sports has learned the federation overseeing the sport is planning to not only hold the women’s world championship in the region for this season but is also eyeing the men’s world championship there as well.
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federation → learn → championship
The details on a specific location have not been shared.
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details → share → location
“We can confirm that we are in advanced discussions with the United Arab Emirates for the hosting of the World Women’s Championship this season,” Chris Hamilton, World Curling head of communications, wrote in an email.
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Hamilton → confirm → email
“Those discussions also involve wider growth opportunities in the region, including the hosting of a world men’s championship at a future date, the running of regional championships, as well as camps and courses provided by the World Curling Academy.”
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discussions → involve → Academy
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While the plan right now is to hold the women’s world championship in the UAE, nothing is official at this point.
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nothing → ramp → point
It is unprecedented for the host of a world championship to not be named by this point.
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host → name → point
World championships are held every year in Canada – one year it’s the women’s worlds, the next year it’s the men’s worlds.
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it → hold → Canada
The other world championships are held in international locations.
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championships → hold → locations
On the men’s side of things, the upcoming world championship is scheduled for late-March in St. John, N.B.
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championship → schedule → John
That announcement was made more than a year ago, giving curlers and organizers ample time to prepare and plan.
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announcement → make → time
There has never been a curling event of this magnitude held in the Middle East – a region that is unstable because of an ongoing war.
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that → curl → war
Number of considerations
World Curling acknowledges there are a number of considerations off the ice to consider when hosting a world championship in that area of the world but continues to move forward with plans to play in the UAE.
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Curling → acknowledge → UAE
“We do recognize that there are particular challenges in the region at this moment in time, which is why we are being conscientious and patient in the contractual discussions,” Hamilton wrote in an email.
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Hamilton → recognize → email
“However, the contractual discussions around the wider presented plan for the region should be resolved and a decision confirmed on the hosting of this championship in the next few weeks.
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decision → present → weeks
When pressed for details, specifically around a cut-off date for there to be an announcement and whether or not there was a backup plan for a host, World Curling declined to answer.
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Curling → press → host
Many of the top female curling teams on the planet continue to wonder where their biggest event is going to take place this season.
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event → continue → place
Uncertainty difficult to navigate
Swiss curler, six-time world champion, Alina Patz says the uncertainty of it all has been difficult to navigate.
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uncertainty → navigate → it
“As an athlete it’s tough to plan when you don’t know what's happening,” Patz said.
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Patz → ’ → athlete
“If the worlds are held there and we have the chance to go, I think we’ll go no matter what.
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we → hold → chance
It would just be nice to know though.
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It → know → ?
It’s really tough to plan.
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It → ’ → ?
Do we have a camp before?
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we → have → camp
What’s the plan?
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plan → ’ → ?
“It’s uncertain.
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It → ’ → ?
It would be easier for the mind to know.
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mind → know → ?
We have direct flights from Switzerland.
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We → have → Switzerland
We have to keep an eye on that.
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We → have → that
For its part, Curling Canada says it’s monitoring the situation but won’t share many thoughts when it comes to the plan to host the event in the UAE.
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it → say → UAE
“We are aware of the conversations currently happening and we await final details from World Curling on the site and details surrounding the 2027 world women’s curling championship,” Al Cameron, Curling Canada director of communications.
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we → happen → communications
No timeline is set for a host location announcement.
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timeline → set → announcement
The women’s world curling championship is scheduled for March 13-21.
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championship → schedule → March
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