The governing body for curling in Scotland, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC), has launched its 2014 Try Curling initiative to attract new people to the sport during the Sochi Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games and beyond.
More than 2,000 people tried curling for the first time in Scotland during the last Olympics year in 2010, but it is hoped that even more people will be motivated to try curling for the first time this year and develop their interest in a sport which is enjoyed by all ages, genders and abilities.
To support the initiative, a new website, www.trycurling.com, has been launched to make it easy for people to get involved with hundreds of taster sessions and beginner classes searchable online, and many free of charge to attend.
Users can also learn about the basics of the game, locate ice rinks and curling clubs near them, and find regional and national curling events to watch Scotland’s top curlers in action.
Everyone attending a Try Curling session between February 15 and March 9 will have the chance of winning a place at the RCCC’s Try Curling Champions event in April where they will be able to meet Team GB’s curling Olympians on their return from the Sochi Games.
Rhona Howie (Martin), the 2002 Olympic gold medal winner, who is supporting the scheme, said: “I’m proud to be involved in the Try Curling initiative, especially with the Winter Olympic season upon us.
“It’s important that we attract new people to the sport to make sure we have future curlers to follow in the footsteps of our men’s and women’s teams in Sochi, Russia”.
Try Curling events start at Forfar Indoor Sports on Saturday; The Peak, Stirling on February 17; Fife Ice Arena on February 19; Dewars Centre, Perth on February 20; and Dundee Ice Arena on February 24.