The Curiosity Of Curling

Like millions of other people around the world, I've been tuning in to the Sochi Olympics with great interest. I'm not what anyone would consider an athletic person I've always loved watching this international athletic event and (in my younger years) fantasized about what it would be like to actually compete in such a grand venue. Figure skating and skiing-both Nordic and alpine- have always been my winter favorites but during the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 I stumbled upon the sport of curling and was simultaneously fascinated and hooked. Maybe it was my sleep deprived state-- Sidney had only been home from the hospital for a few days when the Olympics started--but there was something intriguing about this sport I had only heard of but had never seen.

So what is this sport of curling that I am referencing? As I learned in my quest to understand this sport, this ancient sport dates back to medieval Scotland where actual rocks and sticks were pushed across frozen ponds. Talk about humble origins! The sport has evolved but remains true to its roots with the rocks now being called stones which are more uniform and polished than their predecessors. Similar to shuffleboard, two teams slide their stones across an ice rink toward concentric circles with the goal of outscoring each other. Sweepers accompany the stones using brooms to guide the stones along their intended trajectory. The game is simultaneously simple and complex giving it the moniker of "chess on ice". Today, curling is the popular in Canada and Nordic countries but Scotland is still home to the international governing body of the sport, the World Curling Federation.

Perhaps it is because I was now aware of this sport that I seem to be seeing and hearing about it everywhere. The winter of 2011 found us living in Washington D.C. where Glenn's cousins had their very own ice skating rink set up in their backyard. One evening they invited us over to join them for a game of curling. Yes, that is right; a live curling match. There weren't any outlandish costumes and the sweepers were actually kitchen brooms but the stones were real. Even at the tender age of one Sidney got into the action and slid across the ice alongside the stones. Upon mentioning my interest in curling to my mother she informed me that there was a local curling club in her community. Who knew?

Leading up to the games sportscasters were anticipating not only the competition but the uniforms each team would be wearing. Either curling is coming into its own or I was completely oblivious before but just the mere fact that mainstream, American sportscasters were talking about the sport makes me think others are interested in curling as well. Rumors abounded about the outlandish uniforms that would be sported by the Norwegian national team. Talk about national pride! Other uniforms were much more sedate but that didn't detract from the playing. Living in a hotel with only AFN television I was unsure of how much Olympic coverage I would be able to watch. I considered getting to watch any curling would be a complete bonus. We weren't able to watch the opening ceremonies (my other Olympic favorite) but much to my delight, we have been able to watch a lot of curling. I still don't understand all of it but there is something about this sport that has once again sucked me in. It is just that cool.

So if you've never watched curling, try to tune in and catch a match or two. There is still time during this Olympic season. Better yet, find out if there are any curling leagues in your local community. You can then watch them in person or perhaps take to the ice and try it our for yourself.

Sidney as a "curling stone"- January 2011

Partaking in a European Pastime

Regardless of where I am living, I'm not a huge spectator sports fan.  When we lived in Norfolk- a city devoid of any professional sports teams- we would occasionally attend a Norfolk Tides game with friends.  This Triple-A baseball team was affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles so Glenn would root for them under the auspices of cheering on his hometown team. In reality, we attended these games as social outings with friends and coworkers since neither of us had a real interest in the game's outcome.  Growing up in New England I was, by default, a Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots fan.  Of course, this was during the time when these teams were in the midst of years long losing streaks.  (It wasn't until after I actually moved away from New England that they all began to have winning seasons.  I were the superstitious type, I would say that my presence in New England brought them bad luck).

Upon moving to Albania, it quickly became clear to us that football, or what we Americans call soccer, is a national obsession throughout Europe.  I knew football was a big deal here but didn't realize how important it was.  Even in Albania, a country whose national team is never a contender for an international title, football is popular.  Regardless of their size, it appears that every city and town in Albania has at least one football stadium (Tirana has two!).  Even more telling, when the rest of the city is shrouded in darkness due to power outages, night games in these stadiums are well lit.  Boys start playing football at a young age here (it always seems to be boys since I have yet to see any girls playing).  Whether it is young boys kicking the ball on our street or older youth playing pick up games in the dirt field in the neighborhood, everyone seems to be playing football.  Those who aren't playing are watching- either in the stands or on television in smoked filled cafes.  Football truly is a national pastime.

In Europe, the Super Bowl of football is the Euro Cup.   Buzz about the Euro Cup had been building in recent weeks as national teams dropped from Cup contention.  In coffee bars and on the street, people have been talking about which team was favored to win.  Much like fall and winter Sundays in the U.S. when Americans plan their activities around their football team's kick off time, Europeans do the same.  Football is such serious business here that the playoff schedule became a part of the discussions when planning the Embassy's Independence Day celebration; if a playoff game or (gasp) the finale coincided with our reception, which event would people chose to attend? (Fortunately there wasn't a conflict as the final game took place two days after our event).  Last week Glenn and I found ourselves in Dubrovnik, Croatia on the evening of a semi-final game.  Every public square and outdoor cafe in the old city was filled with chairs and large screen televisions as Europeans of all nationalities cheered Italy on in their victory over Germany.  I think it was at this moment that I truly realized that this was more than just a game- pride and national bragging rights were at stake.

This past Sunday night we watched the Euro Cup finale between Italy and Spain with a group of our international friends.  In typical Albanian fashion we met at a local restaurant where large screen televisions had been set up on the outside patio which made for optimum viewing.  Much to our own chagrin, but to the delight of our friends, we brought Sidney with us to watch the game that began at 2045.  (Even worse, we had been preparing for this night by delaying and extending his nap time over the course of two days with the hope that he would want to stay awake for the late game- he did).  We happened to be in good company as the playground adjacent the restaurant was filled with toddlers running around long after the hour that should have found them asleep in bed.  Sidney joined in the fray befriending a gaggle of Albanian boys who spent the first half of the game running and climbing as only boys can.  The entire scene was loud, smoky, humid, and classically European.  Italian fans, including our entire group that included two Italians, outnumbered Spain's so the shouting throughout the game was more out of dismay rather than joy as Spain scored four unanswered goals.  


Although the final results weren't what we had hoped they would be it was a fun way to spend a European evening.  Next up- watching a live football game in person.  After all, Tirana has two stadiums for us to chose from.