World Curling plans to hold women's world championship in United Arab Emirates

Unprecedented for tournament host to not be named this close to start of the event

With the curling season fully underway and the clock ticking down to world championship season in March, World Curling has confirmed it plans to hold the women’s world championship, slated for mid-March, in the United Arab Emirates.

CBC Sports has learned the federation overseeing the sport is planning to not only hold the women’s world championship in the region for this season but is also eyeing the men’s world championship there as well.

The details on a specific location have not been shared.

“We can confirm that we are in advanced discussions with the United Arab Emirates for the hosting of the World Women’s Championship this season,” Chris Hamilton, World Curling head of communications, wrote in an email.

“Those discussions also involve wider growth opportunities in the region, including the hosting of a world men’s championship at a future date, the running of regional championships, as well as camps and courses provided by the World Curling Academy.”

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While the plan right now is to hold the women’s world championship in the UAE, nothing is official at this point.

It is unprecedented for the host of a world championship to not be named by this point.

World championships are held every year in Canada – one year it’s the women’s worlds, the next year it’s the men’s worlds. The other world championships are held in international locations.

On the men’s side, the upcoming world championship is scheduled for late March in Saint John. That announcement was made more than a year ago, giving curlers and organizers ample time to prepare and plan.

There has never been a curling event of this magnitude held in the Middle East – a region that is unstable because of an ongoing war. Widespread flight disruptions is an ongoing issue in the area as well.

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World Curling acknowledges there are a number of considerations off the ice to consider when hosting a world championship in that area of the world but continues to move forward with plans to play in the UAE.

“We do recognize that there are particular challenges in the region at this moment in time, which is why we are being conscientious and patient in the contractual discussions,” Hamilton wrote in an email.

“However, the contractual discussions around the wider presented plan for the region should be resolved and a decision confirmed on the hosting of this championship in the next few weeks.”

But there are still many questions.

When pressed for details, specifically around a cut-off date for there to be an announcement and whether or not there was a backup plan for a host, World Curling declined to answer.

At the Grand Slam of Curling this week in Victoria, the issue of host location for the women’s worlds has been a topic of conversation. Many of the top female curling teams on the planet continue to wonder where their biggest event is going to take place this season.

Uncertainty difficult to navigate

Swiss curler and six-time world champion, Alina Patz says the uncertainty of it all has been difficult to navigate.

“As an athlete it’s tough to plan when you don’t know what's happening,” Patz said.

“If the worlds are held there and we have the chance to go, I think we’ll go no matter what. It would just be nice to know though. It’s really tough to plan. Do we have a camp before? What’s the plan?

“It’s uncertain. It would be easier for the mind to know. Because of the war situation. We have direct flights from Switzerland. We have to keep an eye on that.”

For its part, Curling Canada says it’s monitoring the situation but won’t share many thoughts when it comes to the plan to host the event in the UAE.

“We are aware of the conversations currently happening and we await final details from World Curling on the site and details surrounding the 2027 world women’s curling championship,” Al Cameron, Curling Canada director of communications.

No timeline is set for a host location announcement. The women’s world curling championship is scheduled for March 13-21.