ALEX and SUSI BENOY at the World Curling Congress in BELGRADE (Serbia)
As you can see from the attached immediate WCF release, there were some interesting decisions taken, especially in relation to Mixed Doubles!!!
Luxembourg must absolutely participate in the next two years’ Mixed Doubles World Championship (April 2016 and 2017), as there are no qualifications to be played to participate in Olympics in 2018 in Pyongyang!!! (Simply the best 8 qualify for the first Olympic Mixed Doubles ever).
A special Mixed Doubles Camp will be organized in Budapest from December 3rd to 6th, 2015 opened for one team per nation.
Together with specially Iceland and Andorra, the Luxembourg representatives decided to try to establish a “Small European Countries Championship” in the near future to be played in a “bonspiel” format over a weekend every year or two years.
It also seems, that the page-playoff system will come to an end in the next years in all competitions,
as the system with semifinals and final (Olympic system) is generally preferred and saves one match (round) at the end of a tournament.
After last year’s rule change, that each player has to fulfill a minimum number of Last Stone Draw deliveries,
the new measurement system is now also in place, putting the record to 199,6 cm (formerly 185,4) for a stone not finishing in the house.
New Ideas for the future were also discussed in many Open Meetings, such as:
5 stones free guard zone and blank ends, one hack, always play 8 instead of 10 ends, background music like in other sports, colour of the team uniforms, a new World Competition in Davis Cup Style….
After 5 days of meetings we came back from a very successful and interesting Congress and look forward to the evolution of our favourite sport.
Alex Benoy, president, and Susi Benoy-Göbel, secretary of the Luxembourg Curling Union.
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