Registered: Mar 2012
Location: 185.5 cm
Posts: 65

Two news reports published yesterday/today conflict.

Calgary Sun's Daniel Austin writes:

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Some call it a gimmick, but there’s a good chance mixed-doubles curling’s critics will have to grin and bear it when the sport debuts at the Olympics in three-years’ time.

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The WCF makes its pitch [for mixed doubles] this spring at the International Olympic Committee's meetings in Sochi, Russia - site of the 2014 Games - in the hopes medals will be handed out in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 480

uhhh, both columnists are actually saying the exact same thing... good chance of olympic participation in 2018.

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

hope they are both wrong. would much prefer real curling in Olympics

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 36

I hope it's not doubles - Why not real mixed?

To me, doubles is an interesting variation, like a corn-broom only bonspiel, skins, or a points spiel.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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Posts: 1064

Mixed Doubles has what the IOC sees as advantages...

1. Fewer athletes...2 per team, rather than 5.
2. Shorter game...6 rock ends, not 8, 8 ends not 10

Combining both of these also leads to 3. a perception that Canada's lead on the World is not as insurmountable as 4 "man" versions would be.

Hate to say it, but also given 4. Male/Female athlete equity...it's going to happen...bet money on it.

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Registered: Jul 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 39

The WCF plan is to get Mixed Doubles in and then turn their focus to getting Mixed in. The idea being that the IOC sees the fact that Mixed Doubles is in countries that don't typically field curling teams. One of the criteria for sports chosen is how many nations compete in it.

With the Canadian Mixed now leading to a World Championship, the WCF is beginning to make it's case for that as well.

3 disciplines in the Olympics for Curling can only do great things for the sport. Love it or hate it Mixed Doubles is here to stay.

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Registered: Mar 2012
Location: 185.5 cm
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quote:

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Originally posted by doubletakeout
uhhh, both columnists are actually saying the exact same thing... good chance of olympic participation in 2018.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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If it does happen and certain others dont i can see some people getting pissed off because compared to other sports waiting to get into the olympics its been around for a pretty short period of time

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 480

quote:

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Originally posted by StonePunter


uhhh, no dude.

First guy says it's a done deal and critics will just have to deal with it come 2018.

Second guy says the WCF is going to pitch the idea to the IOC -- at which point the IOC can have a good chuckle, and then invite in the group who will pitch 'Yo-Yo' as an Olympic sport. (Or 'wrestling' -- that used to be an Olympic event too...)

reading tho

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Registered: Aug 2014
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Posts: 106

I have watched mixed doubles. I hate it.
I have played mixed doubles. I hate it.
I have coached mixed doubles. I hate it.

No need to have this included in the Olympics. Enough people think that curling is not a sport and boring. No need to add to that number.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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I would prefer full mixed getting in first. But if you really think about it this does have a great shot at getting in. Look at the countries who have medaled or won.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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wat i do wonder is if this happens will it drive more top teams to compete in mixed doubles?

they havent really gone for it at the world championship even with a playdowns in place now. kaitlyn lawes i think participated last year, as did travis fanset but they are the only top players i can think of who did

i also would question how many teams would be allowed to participate. this has a massive field in its world tournament. how much do you whittle that down. i feel that you'd need to allow at least 16 teams entry in and that would take a lot of time to finish. 10 certainly wouldnt be acceptable.

Last edited by misty1 on 01-10-15 at 03:48PM

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Registered: Mar 2012
Location: 185.5 cm
Posts: 65

quote:

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Originally posted by doubletakeout


It's not a done deal. Did you read the Sun article in full? It's an awkwardly written lead sentence, but he means "there's a good chance Mixed Doubles will make its debut in 2018." Neither article says it's a for-sure proposition.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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Synchronized...no...but bobsled relay is already in place, and was a medal event in 2014...

Personally, IMO, anything that results in more rocks on ice painted with olympic rings is a good thing...even if it's mixed doubles.

i'd prefer mixed quads, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards yet...maybe for 2022.

That would set the stage for curling for the entire Olympiad, as you could have Womens and Mixed Doubles From the opening Saturday with medal round the middle weekend, and Mens and Mixed Quads kicking off on the middle Sunday and ending on the final Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Doable...the draw schedule would be tight, but particularly without the need to reserve tons of tiebreaker draw slots anymore, it's doable...

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Registered: Apr 2014
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Next it will be spin-a-rama judging! Why not trick curling?

But honestly I think if some of the top curlers in Canada would dedicate themselves to mixed doubles the level of skill would go up a lot. In Canada it really never has been big enough for the top players to take it serious.

Last edited by deadhead on 01-12-15 at 11:19AM

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Kingston, ON
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quote:

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Originally posted by AlanMacNeill
Mixed Doubles has what the IOC sees as advantages...

1. Fewer athletes...2 per team, rather than 5.
2. Shorter game...6 rock ends, not 8, 8 ends not 10

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Kingston, ON
Posts: 210

quote:

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Originally posted by StonePunter


synchronized bobsled and team ice dance.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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I wasn't referring to it in terms of replacing Men's or Women's (don't even THINK it). I was referring to it in terms of being a new event as opposed to the other new event option of mixed quads.

Comparing those apples, doubles has 40% of the athletes per team (since you can't bring in a spare), and 60% of the time committment per game.

Gonna be hard to beat that in a head to head.

We do, however, have one advantage...the two largest TV markets for the games (US and Canada) both ADORE curling, they ravenously consume every second of coverage...the IOC is, really, run by NBC and the other broadcasters these days (witness all of the new snowboarding and similar events...they were driven by American TV, not by sporting potential).

*IF* the WCF was proposing getting Mixed Doubles or Quads into the Olympics requiring teams be formed from within the Men's and Women's teams, it would go in with no issue whatsoever (practically zero cost, opportunity to increase the amount of curling by 50%...no brainer...). However, that would be a LOT of stress on the athletes, so not likely to happen (we aren't figure skaters who can just rip off another runthrough of their short and long program and voila..."Team Skating")

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Kingston, ON
Posts: 210

quote:

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Originally posted by AlanMacNeill
I wasn't referring to it in terms of replacing Men's or Women's (don't even THINK it). I was referring to it in terms of being a new event as opposed to the other new event option of mixed quads.

Comparing those apples, doubles has 40% of the athletes per team (since you can't bring in a spare), and 60% of the time committment per game.

Gonna be hard to beat that in a head to head.

We do, however, have one advantage...the two largest TV markets for the games (US and Canada) both ADORE curling, they ravenously consume every second of coverage...the IOC is, really, run by NBC and the other broadcasters these days (witness all of the new snowboarding and similar events...they were driven by American TV, not by sporting potential).

*IF* the WCF was proposing getting Mixed Doubles or Quads into the Olympics requiring teams be formed from within the Men's and Women's teams, it would go in with no issue whatsoever (practically zero cost, opportunity to increase the amount of curling by 50%...no brainer...). However, that would be a LOT of stress on the athletes, so not likely to happen (we aren't figure skaters who can just rip off another runthrough of their short and long program and voila..."Team Skating")

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