Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 12:44:09 +0100
From: Håkan Sundström, WCF Media Relations Officer
Subject: WORLD CURLING FEDERATION NEWSLETTER
2001-03-29
Ford World Championships in Lausanne to decide medalists and the Olympic
curling nations
When the Ford World Curling Championships start on Saturday March 30, there
are not only the fights for winning medals. The final ranking of all 10
teams of each gender will also decide which nations will be qualified for
the Olympic Curling Games in Salt Lake City next February.
Looking at the ranking list of the two previous Ford WCC in St. John 1999
and Glasgow 2000 at least 8 nations of each gender are in for the 2002
Olympic Games. Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, USA*, Denmark, Germany
and Scotland (Great Britain in the Olympics) are qualified in the women´s
section and Canada, Scotland (Great Britain), USA*, Switzerland, Sweden,
Finland, Norway and Denmark can not lose their places in the men´s Olympic
tournament.
On the women´s ranking list Japan is 9th with 4,5 points and Finland 10th
with 2,5. However, Finland is not qualified for the Ford WCC in Lausanne so
the rookie of the women´s WCC, Russia has the chance to qualify for the
Olympic games. But then Russia has to finish 8th or better to get more than
2,5 points as Finland has.
On the men´s ranking list Germany now is 9th with 3,5 points and will
probably get another some points to save their Olympic positition. For the
10th and last ticket to the Olympics there will be a fight between France on
10th place of the ranking list with 2 points and New Zealand on 12th place
with 1 point. Also Japan has 1 point but is not qualified for the Ford WCC
in Lausanne.
Already in the first draw of the men´s tournament in Lausanne, Saturday at
14.30 local time, the Olympic qualification can be decided because then
France and New Zealand will meet on the ice in Malley Sports Center.
However, these teams perhaps will win some more games so we have to wait
until the end of next week before we can get the final lists of Olympic
teams.
Looking at medal favourites Canada is coming with two new teams comparing
to last years double victory in Glasgow. However, both teams have curlers
with international experience. Colleen Jones team from Halifax and the Randy
Ferbey foursome from Edmonton. Jones, who won the Scott Tournament of
Hearts in Sudbury, defeating defending world champion Kelley Law in the
final, makes her third (1982, 1999) worlds appearance. However, she'll be
looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time. Both in 1982 and
1999 she failed to qualify for the play-off. All other female Canadian skips
have been in the semi finals of the WCC.
Ferbey, winner of the inaugural Nokia Brier in Ottawa in March, will be
making his third worlds appearance. He won the 1989 Worlds in Milwaukee and
was runner-up at the 1988 Worlds in Lausanne, both as third for Pat Ryan.
In 1988, the Ryan team lost only one game, albeit the final to Norway's
Eigil Ramsfjell. Ferbey and his Ottewell Curling Club teammates Dave
Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer and Marcel Rocque will be trying to win a record 27th
men's title for Canada since 1959 and 15th in the last 22 renewals.
There are some other favourite teams with great experience and records of
the world championships. In the ladies section Norway with two former world
champions, Dordi Nordby and Hanne Woods (1990 and 1991). German skip Andrea
Schöpp won the WCC in 1988. Other former world medalists are Anette Norberg
of Sweden, bronze medalist in 1988, -89, -91, and Lene Bidstrup of Denmark
bronze medalist in 1999.
* USA qualified from the beginning as host nation for the Olympic games
In the men´s tournament world champion team of 1997, world runner-up in
both 1998 and 2000, Peter Lindholm of Sweden is back on Swiss ice. In 1997
his team won the gold medal in Berne. His opponent in that final, Andy Kapp
of Germany is back in the WCC after a couple of years and so is
Switzerland´s world champion skip of 1992, Markus Eggler, now playing third
for Andreas Schwaller. Another favourite team is Finland´s European
champions of 2000, world bronze medalists in Glasgow last year and in
kamloops 1998.
Håkan Sundström
Generalsekreterare Svenska Curlingförbundet
Media Relations Officer of World Curling Federation
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