Canada to host 2017 World Mixed Doubles and Senior Curling Championships in Lethbridge

The World Mixed Doubles and Senior Championships in 2017 are due to be held in Lethbridge ©WCF

Curling Canada and the World Curling Federation (WCF) have revealed the 2017 World Mixed Doubles and Senior Championships are set to be held in Lethbridge, Alberta, between April 22 and 29.

Both events are due to take place at the planned state-of-the-art Crossings Ice Complex, with the Championships set to be the first held at the facility which is due to open next September and will boast a 10-sheet curling rink and two ice hockey arenas.

The Championships will offer countries a final opportunity to clinch a place for the inaugural mixed doubles competition at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

“The World Curling Federation is delighted to award these joint Championships to Lethbridge in Canada,” said Kate Caithness, WCF President.

“The opportunity to bring both championships under one roof, to allow for supporters and athletes to enjoy all the curling that’s on offer, was a significant factor in this award, and the WCF looks forward to working with the local organising committee to ensure that these events are a great success.

“The competition is set to be extremely exciting, with not only the World Mixed Doubles and Senior Championships titles on offer, but it will be the last chance for mixed doubles teams to earn Olympic qualifying points for Pyeongchang 2018.”

Canada has previously hosted the combined World Mixed Doubles and World Seniors event with the 2013 Championships having been held in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Switzerland have proved to be the most dominant nation to date in the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship ©WCF

The hosts have yet to claim gold in the mixed doubles competition, which will reach its 10th edition in 2017, with Switzerland having won five golds, Hungary two and Russia one after eight stagings of the event.

“We’ve got an enthusiastic curling community in Lethbridge that is eager to put on a wonderful show, both for the curlers and the fans,” said Mike Mulroy, chair of Lethbridge 2017.

“This is an amazing opportunity to showcase the sport in a beautiful new facility, and we’re preparing for a week of world-class curling.”

The 2016 edition of the Championships is due to take place in Karlstad, Sweden, from April 16 to 23 and will hope to build upon the success of the 2015 event in the Russian city of Sochi which saw 30 countries compete in the mixed doubles competition.

The men’s senior event, for ages 50 and over, saw 25 nations participating while 13 countries took part in the women’s competition.