World Curling, formerly the World Curling Federation (WCF) is the world governing body for curling accreditation, with offices in Perth, Scotland. It was formed out of the International Curling Federation (ICF), when the push for Olympic Winter Sport status was made. The name was changed in 1990 to the WCF and then to World Curling in 2024.
The ICF was initially formed in 1966 as a committee of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Perth after the success of the Scotch Cup series of world championships held between Canada and Scotland.Ağduman, Fatih, and Deniz Bedir. "From past to present the most mysterious olympic sport: a review of curling sport." The Online Journal of Recreation and Sports 12, no. 3 (2023): 314-325. At the outset, it comprised the associations of Scotland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States. In the wake of its formation, it sanctioned the World Curling Championships. World Curling currently sanctions 15 international curling events (see below). World Curling is managed by eight Board Directors, one president, three vice-presidents (one from each World Curling regional zone - Americas, Europe, Pacific-Asia) and six Board Directors. The six Board Directors must all come from different member associations. All positions on the Board of Directors are elected by World Curling member associations. The Board of Directors are supported by and a permanent staff of 20 employees.
There are 74 member associations, with the most recent addition being Pakistan, Puerto Rico and the Philippines in 2023, and Monaco in 2024.
In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022 World Curling banned the Russian Curling Federation from competing.
Goals The World Curling mission statement reads: "To lead the worldwide curling community through the promotion and development of our sport, our culture and our values."
The purpose and aims of World Curling are as follows: To represent curling internationally and to facilitate growth of the sport throughout the world To promote co-operation and mutual understanding amongst Member Associations and to unite curlers throughout the world To Defend and Further the interests of world curling To conduct world curling competitions To formulate rules of the sport of curling for world competitions and all other competitions approved by World Curling
Member associations
Following is a list of member associations of World Curling:
Year Name Country World Curling zone 2017 Afghanistan Curling Federation 1991 Andorra Curling Association Europe2025Argentinian Curling Association Americas 1986 Australian Curling Federation 1982 Europe 1997 Belarusian Curling Association Europe 2005 Europe 2020 Bolivian Curling Federation Americas 2022 Bosnia and Herzegovina Curling Association Europe 1998 Brazilian Ice Sports Federation Americas 2013 Bulgarian Curling Federation Europe 1966 Curling Canada Americas 2002 Chinese Curling Association 1998 Chinese Taipei Curling Federation 2004 Croatian Curling Association Europe 1990 Europe 1971 Danish Curling Association Europe 2019 Dominican Republic winter sports federation Americas 1971 English Curling Association Europe 2003 Estonian Curling Association Europe 1979 Europe 1966 French Ice Sports Federation Europe 2013 Georgian Curling Federation Europe 1967 Deutscher Curling-Verband Europe 2003 Hellenic Curling Association Europe 2016 Guyana Curling Federation Americas 2014 Curling Sports Federation of Hong Kong China 1989 Hungarian Curling Federation Europe 1991 Icelandic Sport Federation Europe 2019 Curling Federation of India 2003 Irish Curling Association Europe 2013 Israel Curling Federation Europe 1972 Italian Ice Sports Federation Europe 2022 Curling Jamaica Americas 1985 2003 Kazakhstan Curling Association 2021 Kenya Curling Federation 1994 2012 Kosovo Curling Federation Europe 2019 Kuwait Winter Games Club 2017 Curling Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic 2001 Latvian Curling Association Europe 1991 Liechtenstein Curling Association Europe 2003 Lithuanian Curling Association Europe 1976 Curling Luxembourg Europe2024Monegasque Skating FederationEurope2016 Federacion Mexicana de Curling Americas 2012 Mongolian Curling Federation 1975 Europe 1991 New Zealand Curling Association 2018 Nigeria Curling Federation 1966 Europe 2023 Pakistan Curling Federation 2023 Curling Pilipinas 2022 Polish Curling Clubs Federation Europe 2017Winter Sports Federation of Portugal Europe2023 Puerto Rico Curling Association Americas 2014 Qatar Curling Federation 2010 Romanian Curling Federation Europe 1992 Europe 2017 Kingdom Curling Association 1966Royal Caledonian Curling Club Europe 2005 National Curling Association of Serbia Europe 2003 Europe 2010 Slovenian Curling Association Europe 1999 Spanish Ice Sports Federation Europe 1966 Europe 1966 Europe 2022 Thai Curling Association 2009 Turkish Ice Skating Federation Europe 2020 Curling Federation of Turkmenistan 2013 Ukrainian Curling Federation Europe 1966 United States Curling Association Americas 1991 US Virgin Islands Curling Association Americas 1982 Europe
Former member associations Years Name Country WCF zone 2008–2014 Armenia Curling Federation Europe 2003–2021 Polish Curling Association Europe
Executive board The current executive board as of June 2024 is as follows:
President: Beau Welling (United States) Vice Presidents: Kim Forge (Australia) Morten Soegaard (Norway) Board of Directors: David Sik (Czech Republic) Helena Lingham (Sweden) Sergio Mitsuo Vilela (Brazil) Robin Niven (Scotland) Jill Officer (Canada) Athlete Commission Chair: Tyler George (Canada)
Former presidents Former presidents of the WCF and ICF are listed below:
President Member association Years in office Presidents of the ICF Major Allan Cameron Scotland 1966–1969 Brigadier Colin A. Campbell Canada 1969–1979 Sven A. Eklund Sweden 1979–1982 G. Clifton Thompson Canada 1982–1985 Philip Dawson Scotland 1985–1988 Dr. Donald F. Barcome United States 1988–1990 Presidents of the WCF Günther Hummelt Austria 1990–2000 Roy Sinclair Scotland 2000–2006 Les Harrison Canada 2006–2010 Kate Caithness Scotland 2010–2022
Competitions and championships World Curling manages many events around the world.
Event DescriptionInternational championships Olympic Winter Games (OWG) For ten men's, women's, and mixed doubles teams. Paralympic Winter Games (PWG) For ten mixed teams and eight mixed doubles teams. Youth Olympic Games (YOG) For sixteen mixed doubles teams. World Men's Curling Championship (WMCC) For eighteen men's teams. World Women's Curling Championship (WWCC) For eighteen women's teams. World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (WMDCC) For twenty mixed doubles teams. World Wheelchair Curling Championship (WWhCC) For twelve mixed teams.World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (WWhMDCC)Open entry: one team may enter from each Member Association. World Junior Curling Championships (WJCC) For sixteen junior men's, women's and mixed doubles teams. World Mixed Curling Championship (WMxCC) Open entry: one team may enter from each Member Association. World Senior Curling Championships (WSCC) Open entry: one team from each gender may enter from each Member Association. The players must not be less than 50 years of age.Qualification events Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) For men's and women's teams from National Olympic Committees previously qualified for World Curling Championships but not already qualified for the Olympic Winter Games. World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event (WMDQE) For mixed doubles teams from member associations not already qualified for the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship (WWhBCC) For mixed gender teams from member associations not already qualified for the World Wheelchair Curling Championship. World Junior-B Curling Championships (WJBCC) For junior men's, women's and mixed doubles teams from member associations not already qualified for the World Junior Curling Championships.Regional championships European Curling Championships (ECC) For twelve men's and women's teams from the European zone.Defunct events Curling World Cup For eight men's, women's, and mixed doubles teams, consisting of three legs and a Grand Final. Pacific-Asia Junior Curling Championships (PJCC) For junior men's and women's teams from the Pacific Zone; acts as qualification to the WJCC. Replaced by World Junior-B Curling Championships. European Junior Curling Challenge (EJCC) For junior men's and women's teams from the European zone that have not already qualified for WJCC. Replaced by World Junior-B Curling Championships. Americas Challenge For men's and women's teams from the defunct Americas zone, only if the second-ranked member association from the Americas zone is challenged. Replaced by Pan-Continental Curling Championship. Pacific-Asia Curling Championships (PACC) For men's and women's teams from the defunct Pacific-Asia zone. Replaced by the Pan-Continental Curling Championship. World Qualification Event (WQE) For eight men's and women's teams from member associations not already qualified for the World Curling Championships. Pan Continental Curling Championships (PCCC) For men's and women's teams from the Pan Continental Zone. Replaced by the World Curling Championships B and C Divisions.
See also World Curling Rankings WCF Hall of Fame
Notes
References
External links
European Curling Federation