World Men’s Curling Championship to go ahead despite coronavirus
The 2020 World Men’s Curling Championship scheduled for March 28 to April 5 at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena will go ahead despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
Teams from China, Italy and South Korea – countries on the category one and two lists of NHS Inform’s at-risk areas – are three of 13 taking part.
“The position on coronavirus is based on advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and in collaboration with the organisers, we do not plan to cancel those events at present,” Cameron MacAllister, the World Curling Federation’s head of media, told Glasgow Standard.
“It is important to note that we are monitoring this every day. It is not a decision we are going to take lightly, but we are continuing to look at all the information available to us and basing our decision on that.
“And at present, the decision is we are going to carry on with the event. That’s not to say that the position will change, it could change quickly.”
Scotland’s opening match is against Joel Retornaz’s Italy side on March 28, after the first games featuring United States versus China and Sweden against South Korea.
With this the first male event gathering points for qualification to the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, the organisation wants to have all teams in attendance.
“We are keeping the event as open as possible to the teams that have qualified to be there,” Mr MacAllister added.
“We do not want to remove anyone unfairly so, at present, there is no decision to not have teams compete. We are again looking at advice on individual countries as well where the situation is more severe than others.
“For us it is important to maintain a fair playing field, and particularly as it is the first season where Olympic points are available, we don’t want to make any decisions that would compromise that for teams.”
Athletes, officials and supporters are being told about the best techniques around germs, while arrangements for the venue are continuing as normal.
“We are just taking it as an opportunity to remind people of good hygiene etiquette and practice,” Mr McAllister continued.
“We have coughing practices and things like that that are recommended by the WHO and we are obviously working with the organisers to ensure that there’s plenty of hand-washing facilities made available to supporters and athletes, and alcohol hand gel provision on site.
“Everything’s on schedule. We are working with the venue to ensure that the venue set-up is done in good time and ahead of the event to the standard that is required.
“There’s preparation around the travel for teams, the logistical elements, and the delivery of equipment – curling stones and all sorts of things – everything that would go into making the event happen is ongoing.”
Team Scotland consists of skip Bruce Mouat, lead Hammy McMillan Jr., second Bobby Lammie and vice Grant Hardie.
The latter confirmed that they are taking on board advice on how to prepare.
“Obviously there is talk of events across the world not going ahead. We have just got to get on with our preparations and see what happens,” Mr Hardie said.
“The Scottish Institute of Sport are very good with us in taking all precautions. We have got hand gels on us all the time, and everyone is that extra level of being careful with it, and extra precaution of good hygiene and trying to look after yourself.
“As it comes up to the Worlds, we will probably just take the advice of our national governing body and what contact we have with other teams, whether it is okay to be shaking their hands before games, whether we should not, and we will look to our coaches and national governing body or even World Curling Federation to advise us on what is the best practice.”
This mens’ event is the first in the city and country since 2000, while Scotland’s last win in the tournament came in Moncton, Canada in 2009.
The Emirates Arena were contacted for a response but were unable to comment on the matter.
A total of six Scottish coronavirus cases have now been confirmed , with Nicola Sturgeon saying on March 1 that the government is preparing for a “significant outbreak”.
