Quick Intro: Curling In The Olympics

Although one of the oldest sports, curling in the Olympics did not become a medal sport until fairly recently. Originating in Scotland, curling dates back to the 16th century where it was often played on frozen lakes.

Curling in the Olympics was first introduced in 1924, then considered the International Winter Sports Week. The sport then disappeared from Olympic competition until 1932, when curling in the Olympics was a demonstration sport.

The next disappearance would last 56 years until 1988, when curling in the Olympics would again be a demonstration sport. The same would be true of curling in the 1992 Olympics. It wasn't until 1998 that the International Olympic Committee decided that curling in the Olympics would become a medal sport.

Nicknamed "The Roaring Game," curling is a sport played between teams of four on long, rectangular sheets of ice. The game is similar to shuffleboard, with a player sliding the 44-pound granite rock toward the house, or target. Two teams at a time face off against one-another, and each team takes turns trying to slide the ten rocks closer to the target. Two sweepers with brushes rub the ice, helping to direct the stone toward the target.

Eight teams in total compete in curling in the Olympics in both the men's and the women's competitions.

The first Olympic gold medal winners in curling came from Great Britain and Ireland in 1924. The same year, Sweden won silver medals and France won bronze. The first curling medals in the Olympics were recognized retroactively by the International Olympic Committee in 2006.

Source:
Curling Equipment and History