Victoria awarded 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship

The City of Victoria, British Columbia has been awarded the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship, it was confirmed today in a joint announcement by the World Curling Federation (WCF) and the Canadian Curling Association (CCA). The championship will be held at the 6,500-seat Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre from March 30-April 7, 2013, the same venue which hosted the very successful 2005 Ford World Men’s, which drew 116,167 fans for the event in the first year when the men’s and women’s world championships were once again separated. Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Victoria for the 2013 Ford World Men’s Championship. Previous events held at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre have been hugely successful and a great platform for what is one of the pinnacles of the curling calendar. “Our Member Associations will be delighted to return to Victoria in the knowledge that Canada will put on yet another first class event for the World to enjoy.” It will be the 21st time that Canada has staged the World Men’s championship since 1959, the fifth time it’s been hosted by the province (1966, 1987, 1998 and 2005) and the second time in Victoria. “In collaboration with our partner, the World Curling Federation, the CCA is delighted to have the beautiful city of Victoria host another major curling championship,” explained Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. “The Ford World Men’s Curling Championship was highly successful in 2005, and we believe that Victoria is primed to build on this success in 2013 as they host the world.” “My co-chair, Chris Atchison, and myself, along with the entire curling community, are thrilled that the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship is returning to Victoria,” added Keith Dagg, host committee co-chair. “We both worked on the 2005 championship, the first ever sports event held at the then new Save-on- Foods Memorial Centre, and we’re proud that 17 of the 22 draws sold out. As a result, the host committee made a significant profit and the City now has a terrific curling program as a legacy of hosting the event.” Canada has won a leading 33 world men’s titles since 1959, and is currently the reigning champion, having won in 2011 (skip Jeff Stoughton), when it was held in Regina, Saskatchewan. “In our 18th year as partner to the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship, Ford of Canada is proud and honoured to be title sponsor of the 2013 championship, which will take place in the great city of Victoria,” said Graeme Whickman, Vice-President of Marketing, Ford of Canada. In fact, when British Columbia has hosted the World Men’s, Canada has not lost. In 1966 and 1987, when held in Vancouver, it was won by Ron Northcott and Russ Howard, respectively. In 1998 in Kamloops, Canada’s Wayne Middaugh prevailed and in 2005 in Victoria, Canada’s Randy Ferbey emerged from a wild six-way tie for first place to claim victory. Tickets for the 2013 Ford World Men’s are expected to go on sale in March of 2012. The 2013 Ford World Men’s will also determine most of the countries (excluding host Russia) which will qualify for the men’s competition at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, based on the cumulative results/standings at the 2012 and 2013 championships. Meanwhile, the 2012 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship will take place March 17-25 in Lethbridge, Alberta, while the 2012 World Men’s Championship will be staged in Basel, Switzerland, March 31-April 8. The 2013 World Women’s Curling Championship has been awarded to Riga, capital of Latvia.