Curling

 

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across an ice sheet toward a goal area divided into four concentric circles. It's connected to shuffleboard, boules, and bowls. Two teams of four players take turns sliding large, polished granite rocks, also known as stones, across the ice curling sheet toward the home, which is marked on the ice as a circular target. Each team has eight stones, with two stones being thrown by each participant. The goal is to get the highest score possible in a game; points are awarded for stones that are closest to the center of the house at the end of each end, which ends when both teams have thrown all of their stones. A game typically has eight or ten ends.

Since 1998, curling has been a medal sport in the Winter Olympics. Men's, women's, and mixed doubles competitions are now available (the mixed doubles event was held for the first time in 2018).

The International Olympic Committee ruled in February 2002 that the curling competitions from the 1924 Winter Olympics (formerly known as Semaine des Sports d'Hiver, or International Winter Sports Week) would be recognized legitimate Olympic events rather than demonstration events. The first Olympic medals in curling, which was played outdoors at the time, were awarded at the 1924 Winter Olympics, with the gold medal going to Great Britain, two silver medals to Sweden, and a bronze medal going to France. During the 1932 Winter Olympic Games, a demonstration competition was staged between four Canadian teams and four American teams, with Canada winning 12 games to 4.