Finland to host 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships

“Events like this are also very important for the development of the sport, especially following the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, where the Finnish wheelchair curling team will play for the first time in our history.”

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced that Lohja, Finland, will host the 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships at the the Kisakallio Sports Institute from 7-14 February 2015.

The top seven placed teams from the 2013 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, held in Sochi, Russia, plus hosts Finland, have already qualified automatically for the 2015 event. The top seven teams were Canada (gold), Sweden (silver), China (bronze), USA, Russia, Scotland and Slovakia.

Qualification is based on the 2013 World Championship standings because no World Wheelchair Curling Championship is held during a Paralympic year.

The remaining two places will go to the teams finishing first and second at the World Wheelchair Curling Qualification event – venue and dates still to be confirmed.

This will be the second World Curling Championship held in Finland, following the inaugural World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship which was held in Vierumaki in 2008. The European Curling Championships were also held there in 2001.

“The Kisakallio Sports Institute has hosted several WCF events in the past, most recently the European Junior Curling Challenge 2014 and World Wheelchair Curling Qualification Events,” said World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness.

“Time and time again they have proven to be exceptional hosts at this first-class facility which is perfectly equipped for wheelchair athletes. The World Curling Federation looks forward to working with the Finnish Curling Association and local partners at this event.”

Finnish Curling Association President, Olli Rissanen, said: “The Finnish Curling Association is excited and thankful to the World Curling Federation for trusting us to host this event. Kisakallio Sports Institute is a very important partner of the Finnish Curling Association and especially for Finnish wheelchair curling, so for us, Kisakallio is the natural place to host this Championships.

“Events like this are also very important for the development of the sport, especially following the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, where the Finnish wheelchair curling team will play for the first time in our history.”

The next major wheelchair curling event is the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games which take place in Sochi, Russia, from 7-16 March.