Lohja to host 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships

By Gary Anderson

January 29 - Lohja in Finland will host the 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, it was announced today.

The event is due to be staged at the Kisakallio Sports Institute from February 7 to 14 and will be the second time Finland has hosted a World Curling Federation (WCF) World Championships following on from the Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Vierumäki in 2008.

Vierumäki also played host to the European Curling Championships in 2001.

"The World Curling Federation is delighted to announce that the 2015 Championship will be held in Finland," said WCF President Kate Caithness.

"The Kisakallio Sports Institute has hosted several WCF events in the past, most recently the European Junior Curling Challenge 2014 and World Wheelchair Curling Qualification Events.

"Time and time again they have proven to be exceptional hosts at this first class facility which is perfectly equipped for wheelchair athletes.

"The World Curling Federation looks forward to working with the Finnish Curling Association and local partners at this event."

Eight of the ten spots for the 2015 World Championship have already been decided.

As hosts, Finland have been granted an automatic place with the seven other places based on the 2013 World Championships which took place in Sochi last February.

Reigning Paralympic and world champions Canada will be joined by Vancouver 2010 bronze medallists and World Championship runners-up Sweden, World Championship bronze medal winners China along with the United States, 2012 world champions Russia, former double world champions Scotland and Slovakia.

Canada will be looking to defend their World Championship crown in Lohja in 2015 ©Bongarts/Getty Images

The remaining two places will be decided at the World Wheelchair Curling Qualification event, the venue and dates of which will be announced by the WCF in due course.

"Kisakallio Sports Institute is honoured to host the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2015," said Petri Tarkkanen, managing director of the Kisakallio Sports Institute.

"Kisakallio is an ideal place to host big events and we are happy that all the curling teams will get to experience the Kisakallio spirit.

"The feedback from our previous curling guests is that Kisakallio offers not only the outside and inside logistical success factor, but also a workforce of volunteers and Institute staff that are ready to do their utmost to let the curling competitors and their support staff concentrate on one of the most important aspects of the competition - to have good curling.

"We thank the World Curling Federation and Finnish Curling Association for putting their trust in us again by giving us the opportunity to host this event in 2015."

Next up for the world's top wheelchair curlers is Sochi 2014 where Finland will be making their first appearance in the competition.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

February 2013: Canada tops world wheelchair curling rankings after securing world title