Forfar world curling qualification event cancelled

Curling's world mixed doubles qualification event 2022, due to be held early in the new year at Forfar, has been put into cold storage.

It was confirmed this week that, because of evolving Covid travel restrictions, it would not be possible to host the international event while following the updated local health regulations.The open entry event was intended to qualify four additional teams for the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2022.The World Curling Federation’s Competitions and Rules Commission will now review the qualification process and further updates will be made available as soon as possible.Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, United States, China, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, England, Hungary and Japan have already qualified for the World Championship, based on their results at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2021 held in Aberdeen last May.Finland, Korea, Estonia and Spain were relegated to the Qualification Event 2022.World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness said: “We are so disappointed that the event has been cancelled owing to Covid challenges.

"I was very much looking forward to welcoming these teams to my home club in Forfar.

"There is no easy replacement to qualify teams for the World Championship, other than competing on the ice for these coveted spots.“Throughout this pandemic, we as a curling community, have learned how to adapt quickly to ever-changing circumstances and now the Competitions and Rules Committee will ensure the next steps required will be fair for those who looked to play in this event.”FIS local organising committee chairman Mike Ferguson said, “On behalf of our team of volunteers, we are extremely disappointed to have to agree to the cancellation of the WMDQE2022.“Just as we were ratcheting up our final arrangements, the upgrading of Covid restrictions in Scotland was creating too many challenges for competitors and organisers alike.

"We were eagerly looking forward to hosting the competition and welcoming everyone to Forfar. However, events have conspired against us. We are not the first and, unfortunately, unlikely to be the last LOC to be faced with such disappointment.”