The weirdest event in the Winter Olympics is about to get a lot more exposure in Charlotte. Β And we call it an “event”, because we’re not quite sure it qualifies as a sport.
There’s already interest in curling in the Charlotte area, in fact, the Charlotte Curling Association regularly gets together for good old-fashioned curling fun. Β And this week, the group moved forward with a huge new facility in North Charlotte, at Sunset and Old Statesville Roads near the Metrolina Fairgrounds. Β It should be ready by fall.
Now, in case you’re unfamiliar with the concept, curling is that unusual Olympic event in which one person slides a stone accross the ice, and teammates brush the ice ahead of it as they aim for the target on the other end. Β It’s not something that takes an athlete who’s in tip top shape to compete in. Β And it’s something Americans really suck at. Β We’ve only ever won a medal once, and that was a bronze back in 2006.
It’s great that the Curling Association is opening a new center, but just because an event involves competition, does that make it a sport? Β We hit the streets to find out…
