Curlinggate: Fuskanklagelser och bråk skakar OS-sporten

The Olympic curling tournament in Cortina d’Ampezzo was overshadowed by accusations of cheating, unsportsmanlike conduct, and rule violations, a stark contrast to the spirit of the game as defined in its own rulebook.

A Tradition of Fair Play

The preamble to the rules of curling states that players compete to win, but “never to humiliate their opponents.” A true curler, the rules emphasize, will not distract opponents or prevent them from playing their best, and would “prefer to lose rather than win unfairly.” These principles, however, were challenged during the recent Olympic games.

The Roots of “Curlinggate”

Concerns about rule-bending didn’t emerge in Cortina. Players from Sweden, including Lag Niklas Edin and Lag Anna Hasselborg, began noticing opponents pushing the boundaries of the rules as early as the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Technical Issues and Rule Interpretations

During the 2022 World Championships, a dispute arose between Sweden and Italy. Swedish players alleged that the Italians were taking advantage of technical problems with sensors and lights in the stones’ handles. These sensors detected if a player released the stone before the hog line. When the lights indicating a legal release failed, players began to intentionally cross the line. Oskar Eriksson likened this to an overstep in the long jump or a soccer player placing the ball ahead of the penalty spot.

Escalating Tensions

Even after the technology was restored, the issue persisted. The Italian skip, Joel Retornaz, argued that crossing the hog line wasn’t the only problem, and that players were also illegally touching the stone after releasing it – a violation that ultimately became central to the controversy at the Olympics. This rule breaking drew attention from major publications like the New York Times.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations

The accusations of cheating focused heavily on Canada. First came denials and expletive-laced responses – including an on-ice outburst of “Fuck off, Oskar” directed at Oskar Eriksson. This was followed by counter-accusations of a Swedish conspiracy. After securing the gold medal, Canadian skip Brad Jacobs expressed his frustration, hoping the image of his team celebrating would “burn in [the accusers’] brains forever.”

Canada’s Response and Internal Debate

Following video evidence from SVT showing Marc Kennedy violating the rules, and similar infractions by Canadian women’s player Rachel Homan, the Canadian press chief, Kyla Jahns, refused to allow Swedish media to question the Canadian team. Viktor Kjell, formerly of Lag Edin and now the Canadian team’s coach, acknowledged the uproar but didn’t believe it would significantly damage relations between the countries. He suggested a video system might be needed to address the issue, stating, “World curling has a job to do and we’ll see if there is any video system that can come into question. It’s up to World curling to fix it.”

Canada appeared to acknowledge a problem. Coach Paul Webster stated that, “If you listen to what Sweden says, I think they have right. This has been a problem they’ve been trying to identify for our international federation and they haven’t acted.” He also criticized the federation for changing rules regarding the double button twice during the Olympics and for using inexperienced officials.

The Core of the Problem

Curling’s tradition of self-regulation, similar to golf, places a significant responsibility on players. Officials are not accustomed to intervening, and are often players themselves, potentially hesitant to challenge established stars. The controversy has sparked internal debate within Canada, with some, like columnist Michael Fournier, suggesting Sweden and Oskar Eriksson should be ashamed, while others have sided with the Swedish claims.

Beyond the Controversy: A Surge in Popularity

Despite the scandal, or perhaps because of it, curling has seen a surge in popularity. The gold medal win by Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå in mixed doubles drew 2.7 million viewers on SVT. The sport is now being playfully recreated online using household items like semlor, rolling suitcases, and robot vacuum cleaners.

Looking Ahead

Oskar Eriksson, who had previously received a fair play award, believes the situation is finally being addressed. He noted that he and his team had been raising these concerns with the World Curling Federation since 2018. He expressed hope that the issues would be resolved, and was praised by Swedish Minister for Sport, Jakob Forssmed, for standing up against cheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sparked the controversy at the Olympics?

The controversy stemmed from accusations that players were illegally releasing the stone before the hog line and touching the stone after releasing it, violating the rules of curling.

Which countries were most involved in the dispute?

Sweden and Canada were the central countries involved, with Sweden raising concerns about rule violations and Canada initially denying the accusations before acknowledging a problem.

What is the role of officials in curling?

Curling officials are typically not accustomed to intervening, as the sport relies heavily on self-regulation by players, who are expected to call fouls on themselves.

As the dust settles, will the governing bodies of curling implement changes to ensure fair play and uphold the sport’s long-held traditions?