CGTN's 'One Minute One Sport' series highlights curling as a precise, strategic game akin to chess played on ice. The sport involves teams sliding stones toward a target while sweeping to control trajectory. With roots in 16th-century Scotland, curling has evolved into a staple of the Winter Olympics.
Curling, often described as "chess on ice," combines precision, strategy, and teamwork in a unique winter sport. As featured in CGTN Sports Scene's "One Minute One Sport" series, which offers quick insights into Winter Olympics events, players compete on a narrow sheet of ice. Two teams take turns sliding polished granite stones toward a circular target called the house.
To influence the stone's path, players use brooms to sweep the ice ahead of it, adjusting speed and direction with subtle motions. This tactical element requires intense concentration, clear communication among teammates, and careful planning, making each match a battle of wits as much as skill.
The sport traces its origins to the late 16th century in Scotland, where communities played on frozen ponds and lakes. Over time, standardized rules, specialized equipment, and refined ice preparation turned it into a modern competitive discipline, all while upholding a tradition of good sportsmanship.
Curling first appeared at the Olympics as a demonstration sport during the 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, France. It gained official status at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, including both men's and women's competitions. Today, it remains a captivating highlight of the Winter Games, known for its blend of historical charm, strategic depth, and thrilling last-minute turnarounds that keep spectators engaged.
