U.S. history will be made just one month before 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 27, 2012) – The world’s best curlers are coming to Las Vegas.
In a joint announcement today by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA), U.S. Curling Association (USCA), World Curling Federation (WCF) and the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition (RTWGC), it was revealed that the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup will be staged January 16-19 at the 9,500-seat Orleans Arena, home to the East Coast Hockey League’s Las Vegas Wranglers.
It marks the first time that the event will be held in the United States and the first time outside of Canada. It also will be the first time that Las Vegas has hosted a curling event of this magnitude. It is anticipated that most, if not all, the competitors will be competing just weeks before traveling to compete in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
“Las Vegas is one of the iconic destinations in the world,” said World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness. “The World Curling Federation and its partners, the World Financial Group, the Canadian Curling Association and the U.S. Curling Association, are thrilled to be able to showcase the sport of curling and its top international players in such a high profile location just ahead of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
The CCA, USCA and WCF have been targeting Las Vegas for a tournament and have been in discussions with the RTWGC, a non-profit corporation created in 2003, to form a partnership to host the Continental Cup. Becoming a partner to host this international event showcases one of the organization’s primary missions.
“The Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition has a long-established commitment to bringing elite sporting events to Nevada,” said Brian Krolicki, Nevada Lieutenant Governor and RTWGC Chairman. “We are honored to partner with the World Curling Federation, the Canadian Curling Association and USA Curling to bring the World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling to the United States for the first time.”
Added Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, “We are excited to showcase the World Financial Group Continental Cup in Las Vegas. With our world-class resorts, entertainment, shopping, dining and nightlife, Las Vegas offers a one-of-a-kind experience for the teams and the fans.”
While thousands are expected to make the trip to Las Vegas to watch the historic tournament, Canadian fans won’t miss a minute of the action back home. TSN, Canada’s leading sports network, along with French sports network RDS, will televise all of the action. Other international and U.S. television details are being finalized.
“The stars have finally aligned. The many years of effort by countless people are finally paying off, and I’d say the odds are that this event will be a winner in Las Vegas,” said Rick Patzke, Chief Operating Officer of the United States Curling Association.
The WFG Continental Cup is a unique, Ryder Cup-style competition pitting six four-person teams (three women’s and three men’s) from North America (two from USA, four from Canada) against six teams representing The World, in a variety of curling disciplines over a four-day period – Team Games, Mixed Doubles, Singles, Skins and Mixed Skins, with each segment worth a specified number of points. Each side will also have a captain and a coach.
Presently, North America and The World are deadlocked at four wins apiece since the inaugural Cup in 2002 in Regina, Saskatchewan. The tie will be broken in two months when the 2013 Continental Cup takes place in Penticton, British Columbia.
“The World Financial Group Continental Cup continues to build momentum and demonstrate its special place in the sport of curling,” explained Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. “We felt that this would be a great profile for the sport with some of the world’s greatest curling athletes coming to Vegas only weeks before the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.”
Event tickets are expected to go on sale in early 2013.
For further information:
Greg Stremlaw
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Curling Association
Office: 613-834-2076 x117
Cell: 613-799-9993
gs*******@cu*****.ca
www.curling.ca
Joanna Kelly or Daniel Parker
Media Relations
World Curling Federation
me***@wo**********.org
www.worldcurling.org
Terry Kolesar
Director of Communications
USA Curling
te***********@us*****.org
715-344-1199, Ext. 202
Cell: 608-338-9900
Jon Killoran
Chief Executive Officer
Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition
Cell: 775-342-3444
Office: 775-622-3345
jo**********@re******************.org
