Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Accusations of rule violations are escalating at the Olympic curling tournament, with both Sweden and Switzerland lodging complaints regarding potential infractions by Canada during recent matches. The controversy began when the Swedish team halted play during their game against Canada, alleging that Canadian player Marc Kennedy illegally touched a stone after it had passed the hog line.
Kennedy vehemently denied the accusation, responding with a sharp rebuke to his Swedish opponents. “Who does that? Who? I’ve never done that,” he reportedly said, adding a dismissive “Secure lost.” Despite the heated exchange, play resumed without intervention from officials, who cited inconclusive television footage as the reason for not issuing a penalty.
The World Curling Federation (WCF) subsequently issued a communication to all participating teams, reiterating the rules regarding the proper release of a curling stone. The WCF also announced that officials would increase scrutiny of stone releases in all future games.
Further complaints arose during Switzerland’s match against Sweden on Saturday. The Swiss team raised concerns about a potential double touch by a Swedish player, but the claim was not investigated or penalized. Despite the controversy, Switzerland defeated Sweden 9-5, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record in the tournament.
This follows a recent incident where Sweden defeated Switzerland 7-13, a result that initially appeared to derail the Swiss team’s medal hopes. Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann and Yannick Schwaller, the Swiss duo, responded to the loss with a decisive 10-3 victory over the Czech Republic, securing their third win in six games and keeping their playoff aspirations alive. The Swiss pair achieved a four-end power play in the fifth end, extending their lead to 7-2.
Yannick Schwaller is also slated to compete with the Swiss men’s team, currently ranked second in the world, after the mixed doubles event concludes. The Swiss team, led by Schwaller, is considered a strong contender for Olympic gold.
