Curling schedule loses six more events because of COVID-19

Curling Canada has cancelled six more events in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization announced Thursday it has cancelled the Continental Cup in Oakville, Ont., the Canadian under-18 championships in Timmins, Ont., the New Holland Canadian junior championships in Fort McMurray, Alta., the Canadian wheelchair championship in Moose Jaw, Sask., the Canadian Under 15 RockFest and the U Sports/Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championships.

Curling Canada said safety of participants and volunteers, travel restrictions and costs were factors in the decisions to cancel the events.

“We considered all options, but in the end, we had to make the responsible decision — for the athletes, for the volunteers and for the organization, to ensure the safety of those involved in the championships as well as the viability of the sport in Canada,” Katherine Henderson, chief executive officer of Curling Canada, said in a statement. 

Sportsnet already has trimmed its six-stop Grand Slam of Curling circuit to just two events this season due to the pandemic.

Other Curling Canada events in 2021 — the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s championship in Thunder Bay, Ont., the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men’s championship in Kelowna, B.C., and the world men’s championship in Ottawa — remain on the schedule.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2020.

The Canadian Press