World Junior Curling Championships 2015 start in Tallinn
The newly built Tondiraba ice hall in Tallinn is hosting World Junior Curling Championships, starting February 28, for the first time.
The event will feature 100 young athletes from 12 countries, including current world champions from Switzerland and Canada.
Fred Randver, president of the Estonian Curling Association, said it's a great honor and responsibility to host the junior world championships and a good promo for both Tallinn and Estonia as a whole. "The junior worlds bring here athletes who are very likely to compete in the next Olympic games," he said, adding that the association aims to host the world championships next. The new Tondiraba ice hall meets the criteria and is very well suited for holding such a high-level sporting event.
The over 200 guests visiting Tallinn during the championships include the President of the International Curling Federation Kate Caithness and a delegation from South Korea, who will host the next Winter Olympics in 2018.
The event will kick off with an opening gala on Saturday. The finals will be played on March 8 at 09:30 (men) and 14:00 (women). There is free entry to all matches.
The ten women’s teams are: defending champions Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Korea, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.
The men's teams are: Canada, Estonia, Italy, Korea, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, defending champions Switzerland, and the USA.
To add to the occasion, top international junior curlers and junior figure skaters will compete under the same roof, as the complex will host the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2015 at the same time.
Editor: M. Oll