What is Wheelchair Curling?
The 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics was a triumphant spectacle that showcased some of the most talented athletes across the world as they competed in search of those elusive Paralympic medals. Among the growing list of winter sports on display this year was wheelchair curling, a game of balance, agility, coordination and strength.
Wheelchair curling is one of the most watched events at the Winter Paralympics and is growing in popularity. Get inspired by the Paralympians and learn all about wheelchair curling in this month’s article.
The History of Wheelchair Curling
In March 2002, The International Paralympic Committee granted official medal status to wheelchair curling for mixed gender teams. Four years later, wheelchair curling was introduced in the 2006 Torino Winter Paralympic Games.
Wheelchair curling was a hit in its inaugural year. Nowadays, wheelchair curling is practised by athletes from 25 countries around the world.
Wheelchair Curling Success
Wheelchair curling has been staged at five consecutive Winter Paralympics, from 2006 to 2022.
Canada is the most successful country in the sport, racking up three gold medals and one bronze across five tournaments. The three gold medals were achieved in the first three consecutive tournaments. They were finally dethroned by China in South Korea 2018.
The UK has found mixed success in the sport. They received a silver medal in the sport’s inaugural Winter Paralympics, but missed out on a podium in the following tournament. However, Team GB would be back to winning ways in 2014 by securing a bronze medal.
Rules of Wheelchair Curling
Wheelchair curling is a relatively simple game that requires balance, agility, coordination and strength. The objective of the sport is to slide stones across the ice and have them land as close to the target (referred to in the sport as the ‘house’) as possible.
The equipment involved in wheelchair curling includes:
- Curling stones
- Curling shoes
- Curling clothing
- Curling gloves
The rules of wheelchair curling in the Winter Paralympics are very similar to the rules of traditional wheelchair curling with a few changes:
- Sweeping (brushing the ice in front of the stone to change its direction) is prohibited
- Each team must include male and female players, with at least one female player remaining on the ice at all times.
The game is played with two teams who take it in turns to slide stones down the ice. The lead team slides the first stone and the play continues with an athlete on alternating teams sliding two stones.
The team that places the most stones closest to the centre of the house wins a point. The winning team is decided by who gets the most points over eight ends, with an extra end played should it be a draw.
Ideas in Action would like to extend their congratulations to China on their victory in the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics event of wheelchair curling. We’re inspired by all the heroes that compete at the Paralympic games and hope that it inspires a new batch of athletes to make the most of their wheelchair-bound condition.
We’re proud to offer a range of wheelchairs for all users and all needs. Based in Birmingham, we have over 40 years’ experience and guarantee to find the mobility aids you need to regain your independence.