Perth, Scotland
Thursday 7 January
The Slovenian Curling Association will host the European Curling Championships C-Division (ECC-C), its first international curling event, in April.
The event will be held in the Ice Arena Zalog in Ljubljana between 25 April and 1 May 2016.
The ECC-C traditionally took place in October, but was moved to the spring following a decision taken at the World Curling Federation’s Annual General Assembly. This will give the winning teams more time to prepare for the European Curling Championships B-Division which take place in November.
World Curling Federation President, Kate Caithness, said: “The World Curling Federation (WCF) are excited to be taking this qualification event to Slovenia. The Slovenian Curling Association has shown great ambition in developing our sport in recent years and I am in no doubt that the local organising committee will put on a great show for all the athletes and supporters.”
Previously, five national curling championships and four junior curling events have been held in the Ice Arena Zalog, but it is hoped that an international event will play a significant role in the future development of curling in Slovenia and Central Europe.
Gregor Rigler, President of the Local Organising Committee, said: “Slovenia is a relatively new country in the curling family and tries to promote curling in all possible ways. We believe that organising ECC-C will, among other things, help to promote the unique sport of curling and raise its popularity in Slovenia.
“We also wish to be a role model for all the countries participating in the C-Division and give them the courage to organise future competitions. We hope we can catch some attention from potential sponsors, and that the organisation of this championship will help us take steps closers to getting dedicated ice.”
One women’s team and one men’s team from each WCF Member Association in the European Zone may enter, only if they are not competing in the European Curling Championships A or B Divisions.
Two women’s teams and two men’s teams will qualify for the European Curling Championships B-Division in Glasgow, Scotland from 18-26 November 2016.
Marko Kolenc, Director of Sport Municipality in Ljubljana, said: “On behalf of Municipality of Ljubljana we will be glad to welcome the European Curling Championships C-Division to the 2016 Green Capital of Europe. Curling is one of the youngest Olympic sports in Slovenia and the speed of its development is amazing.”