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Homecoming on ice
30/01/2009
Scottish Curling Teams will showcase their skill on the world stage when they travel to compete in the World Curling Championships in Canada and Korea, thanks to a £21,000 Homecoming sponsorship deal.
The Scottish men's, wheelchair, and junior teams will compete in the championships in Canada, broadcast across the country - wearing the Homecoming logo on their shirts. The Scottish women's team will take their talent to Gangneung in Korea.
The First Minister made the announcement on a visit to Edinburgh's Murrayfirld Icerink, where he met Scottish and Canadian players at the conclusion of the competition for the Strathcona Cup. The cup is one of the oldest international curling competitions in the world and marks the endurance of friendly curling competitions between Canada and Scotland, this being its centenary year.
The First Minister said:
"Scotland's year of Homecoming is all about celebrating our nation's contributions to the world and strengthening our global friendships.
"Curling is a great Scottish invention and one that has been embaced round the world and has become the basis for lasting international relationships.
"The Strathcona Cup is an emblem of that international sporting spirit of friendship. Now in its 100th year it has brought players from Scotland and Canada together - each offering fun, friendship and hospitality.
"Today's funding announcement will help our Scottish curlers to promise the hospitality of our nation, by sharing the Homecoming message. With over 1 million active curlers in Canada, and more beyond, I hope many will take up the invitation and return to the home of curling in 2009.
"The timing couldn't be better to celebrate Scottish curling and every nation that has embraced it. And as part of our Homecoming celebrations we lookforward to providing firm foundations for the next generation of friendships when we host Scotland's first International Curling Camp. Of course when our players travel to compete in the World Curling Championships we will be playing to win. Let's hope the badge of Homecoming brings not only good fortune for the Scottish economy, but also on the ice!"
Colin T Grahamslaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club said:
"We are delighted and honoured to receive this support from Homecoming Scotland, our teams are great ambassadors for the country and wearing the Homecoming brand will add to that role. We are pleased to play any part we can in encouraging people to come back to Scotland for a visit."
The game of curling is thought to have been invented in late medieval Scotland, with the first written reference to a contest using stones on ice coming from the records of Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, in February 1541.
Friendly curling competitions between Canada and Scotland started with the first visit of a Scottish team to Canada in 1902-03. Following the huge success of that visit, the Strathcona Cup was established, and so began one of the oldest international curling competitions in the world.
The World Wheelchair Championships will be contested in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from February 21 to 28, 2009.
The World Junior Championships will be contested in Vancouver from March 5 to 15, 2009. Having won the World Championships in 2007 and 2008, the Scottish Women's Junior Team will be travelling to defend their title.
The World Women's Championships will be held in Gangneung, Korea from March 21 to 29, 2009.
The World Men's Curling Championship will be contested in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from April 4 to 12, 2009, coinciding with Scotland Week in America which runs from April 4 to 11, 2009.
The International Curling Camp will be lead by elite coaches from around the world and will be held in Dumfries from July 19 to 25, 2009. A combination of curling and team-building activities will provide curlers aged 16 to 21 with the chance to improve their game, meet new people and develop a lasting legacy of friendship as part of the year of Homecoming.
Scotland is due to host the European Curling Championships this year from December 5 to 12, 2009.
Homecoming Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland, the national events agency, in partnership with VisitScotland, the country's national tourism agency.