The 2018 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship continues at Memorial Gardens, which World Curling Federation officials say is the perfect sized venue for their event.

That’s the word from Communications and Media Relations Manager Cameron MacAllister.

“These venue sizes, 4,000 capacity in Canada, are really ideal for this World Women’s Curling Championship because you do create a really good atmosphere, they’re nice and tight venues, good for TV and photography,” he says.

MacAllister also says there’s a real passion for the sport locally and they’re seeing that with the enthusiastic fans and volunteers.

In terms of the growth of the sport, he says the recent Olympics helped create a big buzz.

With the next games in China in four years, there are more curling clubs growing in Asia too.

“One thing we’re doing as a Federation to capitalize on that is we’re introducing a World Cup of Curling and that will be a four-leg event that will start next season and the final will be in China,” MacAllister says.

Photo by Richard Coffin

 

On the pebbled ice at Memorial Gardens, Canada and Sweden remain undefeated.

Canada’s Jennifer Jones rink is 6-0 with a big day ahead.

They play the Olympic silver medalists from Korea this afternoon then the Olympic gold medalists from Sweden tonight at 7 pm.

“All the teams here are great, and we’ve played those teams and they’re great teams. We know we’re going to have to play a great game for a full ten ends,” Jones says.

Canada won 10-5 over Denmark yesterday morning then 8-6 over Scotland last night.

Sweden leads the standings at 7-0.

After their victory of Korea earlier this week, Skip Anna Hasselborg (pictured below) says there are a lot of competitive teams at the event.

“China and Japan, which have other teams then what they had at the Olympics are playing really, really well. I think it’s pretty much an open field, everyone is playing really well, so you just stay focused on every game and every shot,” she said.

Canada takes on 5-1 Korea this afternoon at 2 pm.

(TOP Photo) Canada skip Jennifer Jones shakes hands with Scotland third Jennifer Dodds following Canada’s victory at the World Women’s Curling Championship Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in North Bay, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

 

Sweden skip Anna Hasselborg directs the sweep as they face Switzerland at the World Women’s Curling Championship Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in North Bay, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson