 All eyes are on Stefania Constantini (photo: Anil Mungal, GSOC), a prominent figure in the curling world after winning gold for Italy at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The stage is set in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the inaugural Cortina Curling Cup, a highly anticipated event orchestrated by the Cortina Foundation in collaboration with the Cortina Curling Association. As a pivotal stop on the European Tour, this competition promises a spectacular showcase of talent. With just 15 days remaining, the Cortina Curling Cup is slated to unfold from Thursday, January 11th, to Saturday, January 13th. The event features some of the world's most formidable international women's teams, representing a total of eight nations. Among the highly anticipated participants are the two Italian teams: Team Constantini, currently ranked ninth in the world, boasting the likes of Stefania Constantini (Olympic gold medalist in Beijing 2022), Elena Mathis, Marta Lo Deserto, Giulia Zardini Lacedelli, and Angela Romei. Constantini has 38 wins and 25 losses on the season, winning the North Grenville Women's Fall Classic near Ottawa, Canada along with reaching two more finals, taking the silver medal at the Le Gruyere European Curling Championships in November and the Euro Super Series in August. Constantini adds in 5 more playoff finishes in 10 events on the season, including twice reaching the quarterfinals in the Grand Slam of Curling series events. "We are thrilled about it, because it would be our first important event at home," said Constantini. "It will also mean to have the crowd cheering for us and that’s something that we are not used to but that we would like to experience somehow before the Olympic Games in 2026." Additionally, the young talents of Team Mariani, comprising Rebecca Mariani, Camilla Gilberti, Lucrezia Grande, and Rachele Scalesse, will be representing Italy as the reigning Junior champions. A spotlight shines on Team Eunji Gim, the South Korean powerhouse currently holding the second position in the world ranking. Joining them on the ice are teams from Germany (Team Abbes), Switzerland (Team Hürlimann and Team Schwaller), Estonia (Team Kaldvee), Scotland (Team Munro), Norway (Team Rorvik), and Turkey (Team Yildiz). The participating teams will be divided into two groups, engaging in matches across three competition fields. Action kicks off on January 11th at 10 am, continuing throughout the day with the last match scheduled for 6 pm. The intensity persists on January 12th, commencing with matches at 8 am and concluding at 8 pm. The grand finale takes place on Saturday, January 13th, featuring quarter-finals at 8 am, semi-finals at 11:30 am, and the ultimate showdown at 3 pm. "We will play the tournament conscious that in a few years, under that same ice, there will be the rings that every athlete wants to experience," added Constantini. "Those feelings fill our hearts and hopes that people can get closer to our sport through this event." The Olympic Ice Stadium is set to be the epicenter of a three-day extravaganza, offering spectators a captivating display of talent. Attendees can revel in the excitement free of charge throughout the entire event. |
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Manitoba's Kate Cameron (Photo: Curling Canada) announced on Monday that the team will look different for the new Olympic quadrennial.
