Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller urged World Curling to allow noisier crowds after his team's win at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. He posted on Instagram criticizing a 'quiet please' sign displayed in the arena. World Curling responded by supporting the energetic atmosphere and instructing organizers not to repeat the sign.
The controversy erupted during curling events at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Italy. On Friday, Switzerland's men's team, skipped by Yannick Schwaller, defeated Czechia 7-3. Immediately after the match, Schwaller shared a post on Instagram featuring a struck-through 'quiet please' image. In the caption, he wrote: '@worldcurling please stop (discouraging) the crowd from (being) loud, let them go nuts! It is what curling needs. Awesome atmosphere by the Italians.'
The post highlighted a divide in the sport's traditions. Curling has long emphasized quiet precision, with fans typically cheering only after shots and avoiding applause for opponents' errors. However, the Italian crowd has brought a lively energy, including thunderous applause, vuvuzelas, and chants of the song 'Sara perche ti amo' by Ricchi e Poveri. American curler Korey Dropkin encouraged the noise by waving his arms and shouting after successful shots.
Great Britain's Hammy McMillan Jr. commented on Schwaller's post, questioning the 'quiet please' projection on the big screens. He later told reporters: 'They’re going to be loud all week. It’s actually quite a fun atmosphere for us as curlers... I think it’s what curling needs. They sound like Italian ultras!' Dropkin echoed this, saying the rowdiness made the week special and created a fun environment.
World Curling clarified that the sign was put up by the Sports Production team following a noise complaint. In response, they stated: 'We have no issue with the noise and have asked the Sports Production team not to put it up again.' They added directly to Schwaller: 'Absolutely no issues from our side! We love the atmosphere and agree with Yannick it’s great for curling.'
Switzerland's men's team remains undefeated at 2-0, including an 8-3 victory over the United States. Schwaller, who placed seventh in mixed doubles with his wife Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann, has also drawn attention to family challenges, with their one-year-old son River appearing at the venue holding a broom, earning the nickname 'Curling Baby.' Briar noted: 'I miss him very much. He still can’t understand why he has to leave his parents again.' The International Olympic Committee did not provide nurseries at these Games, unlike the 2024 Paris Olympics.
CBC reporter Devin Heroux reported that many curlers share Schwaller's view on the crowd energy.
