RCF president: only Russia and Canada are able to organise curling tournaments in such a great way

The 2016 World Mixed Curling Championship kickoff press conference was held in the conference hall of the Sport Palace in Kazan just a few minutes before the start of the event’s opening ceremony. Present at the press conference were Hugh Millikin, Vice-President (Pacific-Asia) of the World Curling Federation (WCF); Dmitry Svischev, President of the Russian Curling Federation (RCF); Marat Bariev, Russian Federation State Duma Deputy and Member of the Russian Federation State Duma Committee for Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs; Vladimir Leonov, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan; and Keith Wendorf, WCF Director of Competitions and Development.

In his welcome speech, Hugh Millikin admitted that the level of curling event management in Russia has always impressed him.

“It’s a great honour for us to be here, in Russia. All curling events in Russia have been staged to a high standard; I remember the Sochi Olympics, where everything was organised incredibly successfully. It’s the second time we hold the world championship among mixed gender teams. We have 37 teams; it’s a great number. We are looking forward to the start of the tournament. We are hugely impressed by the Sport Palace. We are grateful to Russia and Tatarstan for such competitions,” Hugh Millikin concluded.

President of the Russian Curling Federation, Dmitry Svischev, also mentioned Kazan’s high level of readiness for the World Mixed Curling Championship.

“On behalf of the Russian Curling Federation, I would like to congratulate everyone on the kickoff of this high-profile event. I would like to thank Tatarstan for a warm welcome. The level of management and event preparation meets all the highest possible requirements. Only Russia and Canada are able to organise curling tournaments in such a great way. Athletes are very happy with the conditions created for them in Kazan,” Dmitry Svischev said.

Marat Bariev thanked the World Curling Federation for putting their trust in Kazan and granting the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan the right to host the world championship. “It’s a huge event not only for Kazan and Tatarstan but for Russia as well. Special thanks to the organisers. I have no doubt that the competition will be staged to a high standard. I hope that this championship will help this curling discipline to make it into the Olympic programme, and Kazan will facilitate it,” said Marat Bariev, Member of the Russian Federation State Duma Committee for Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs.

During his speech, Tatarstan’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport, Vladimir Leonov, provided some updates on curling’s development in the republic. “We are grateful to the World Curling Federation and Russian Curling Federation for their trust. Athletes are very pleased with the quality of the rink and we need to say thanks to the event organisers. I wish good luck to all the teams. I hope that the tournament will be a memorable event for everyone. Curling is developing; a federation has been founded in Tatarstan. Up to 100 people play curling in the republic, and we’ve invited a curling coach to our city. The President of the World Curling Federation is about to arrive in Kazan by the end of the tournament. There will be a meeting with President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. We will talk about what can be done in Tatarstan for curling’s development and how we are going to develop it in the future,” Leonov said.

He also added that the event organisers have been closely cooperating with the Directorate for the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk.

“We’ve joined efforts with Krasnoyarsk for this championship, and for them it’s some kind of a test event,” Leonov concluded.

Keith Wendorf named three reasons why Russia had earned the right to host the world curling tournament.

“Firstly, Dmitry Svischev is a great tournament organiser; secondly, Russia can create perfect conditions for athletes, and, thirdly, people in Russia love sports very much. We are grateful to you for everything you do for sports,” Keith Wendorf added.

The World Mixed Curling Championship will be held in Kazan from October 14 to 22.