By Ethan Ready

World Returns to PG

World Curling Federation confirms World Women’s Curling Championships returning to Prince George

Jul 29, 2021 | 11:02 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – The world will return to Prince George after all.

The World Curling Federation and Curling Canada both confirmed on Thursday the World Women’s Curling Championships will make their return to the City of Prince George after being cancelled in March 2020, just days before the tournament was set to open.

World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness made the announcement via a Zoom conference call Thursday morning.

“I’m delighted to see the host committee of Prince George able to finally welcome the World Women’s Curling Championship 2022 to their community following the disappointment of the 2020 cancellation,” said World Curling Federation President, Kate Caithness.

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The tournament will be getting underway on March 19th and run through to the 27th at the CN Centre.

The event was to take place between Saturday, March, 14th and Sunday, March 22. The event would see teams from 13 countries compete for the world title and Olympic Qualification Points for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

“We all have vivid memories of that week leading up to the cancellation in Prince George, and we know how much excitement there was in the city leading up to the event, so today’s announcement is particularly gratifying,” said Katherine Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “I know that Curling Canada and our partners at the World Curling Federation really wanted to make sure Prince George got its opportunity to show off to the world, and I’m positive that it will put on a championship that will be remembered by all who participate.”

Mayor and Council have known of the tournament’s return for a while now, already committing funds to ensure the event’s success as the City looks to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last time Prince George welcomed a curling event was during the 2009 Road to the Roar Pre-Trials. Nine years earlier, the arena played host to the 2000 Scottie Tournament of Hearts, where the home-province favourite Kelley Law came out on top, then went on to win gold at the World Women’s Curling Championship 2000 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Canada has won a leading 17 women’s world titles since 1979; Switzerland and Sweden are next at eight apiece.

The 2021 World Women’s Championship was played in a bubble in Calgary, with Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni coming out on top.