Curling federation calls Moncton event 'a well-oiled machine'

B3

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

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Aside from some minor technical problems with the ice on opening day, the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship tournament in Moncton has been running like a "well-oiled machine," the president of the World Curling Federation said yesterday.

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Czech Republic sweepers Jindruch Kitzberger and Martin Snitil put some muscle into bringing a rock down the ice yesterday.

Yusuke Morozumi of Japan calls to his sweepers during morning action at the Ford World Men's Curling at the Moncton Coliseum yesterday.

Team Canada lead Ben Hebert and third John Morris share a laugh duirng their game against Team USA yesterday.

Team China skip Fengchun Wang watches his rock during action yesterday at the Moncton Coliseum.

Third Tony Angiboust and skip Thomas Dufour of Team France look a little disgusted with their team’s shot.

Finland’s third Jani Sullanmaa delivers a stone against Canada during yesterday morning’s game.

Team USA skip John Shuster, left, and Team Canada skip Kevin Martin talk yesterday during their match.

Viktor Pivovarov

Switzerland skip Ralph Stockli lines up a shot as Czech Republic skip Jiri Snitil looks on during their match last night.

Team USA third Jason Smith waits for his skip’s stone to reach the house.

Viktor Pivovarov

German skip Andy Kapp delivers a stone during a match against Denmark.

Viktor Pivovarov

Swiss fans cheer on their team against the Czech Republic last night at the Moncton Coliseum.

Viktor Pivovarov

Danish skip Ulrik Schmidt lines up a shot as German skip Andy Kapp looks on.

Viktor Pivovarov

Scotland skip David Murdoch delivers a stone during a match against Norway last night.

Greg Agnew

Norway skip Thomas Ulsrud yells for his sweepers, Christoffer Svae and Havard Vad Petterrson, to bring the rock into the house.

Ron Ward

Team Canada skip Kevin Martin releases his rock as lead Ben Hebert gets ready to sweep.

Viktor Pivovarov

Team Scotland, left, third Ewan MacDonald, second Peter Smith, skip David Murdoch and lead Euan Byers talk between ends during a match against Norway last night.

Ron Ward

Team France skip Thomas Dufour watches as one of his team's rocks comes down the ice.

Les Harrison of Moncton said attendance has been good, from sold-out crowd of over 6,000 for the opening ceremonies to an average of over 2,000 fans per game. According to statistics released yesterday, total attendance for the tournament up to yesterday afternoon was 36,201. That number represents the number of tickets actually sold and does not include other media or dignitaries with passes for the event.

The tournament continues until Sunday with the gold medal game at 7:30 p.m. Today's schedule will have three draws, with Kevin Martin's Team Canada playing Denmark at 10 a.m. and Scotland at 7:30 p.m.

Team Canada games have been broadcast live on TSN with WCTV, the television arm of the curling federation, providing video clips for broadcast to countries around the world. Writers from around the world have been covering the event for publications in other countries.

Harrison said problems with the ice that occurred during Saturday's opening games have not returned. Icemakers say warm temperatures outside, combined with the heat of thousands of bodies inside the Moncton Coliseum during Friday night's opening ceremonies, created high temperatures inside the building. That caused condensation and frost that resulted in the curling stones acting slightly erratically.

Harrison said organizers spent about $80,000 for a special air conditioning unit to help maintain cool temperatures inside the rink. That system was adjusted after Saturday morning's conditions.

Fans and curlers from around the world have praised organizers for doing a great job of putting on the Moncton event.

Tickets are still available for the remaining draws through the Coliseum box office or tickets.moncton.ca.