The BBC was compelled to issue an immediate on-air apology during its Winter Olympics coverage after a Canadian curler unleashed an X-rated comment live on air. This swearing controversy erupted as the Team GB women's curling team clinched a vital 7-6 victory in a tense round-robin match.
On-Air Apology Following Expletive Incident
BBC commentator Steve Cram, the former Olympic middle-distance runner, swiftly apologised to viewers after microphones picked up a Canadian team member uttering "F*** guys" in a moment of visible frustration. Cram stated: "Oh dear, again, really sorry if you heard a frustrating expletive, let's just put it that way."
Team GB's Crucial Victory Over World Champions
Despite a strong late surge from the reigning world champions, the British rink led by Rebecca Morrison held on for a narrow win. Team GB had built a 7-3 lead after the eighth end but faced a determined Canadian comeback, with the opponents scoring three points in the final two ends.
This victory was particularly significant for Morrison's team, which had suffered defeats in its first two matches of the tournament. The British squad, comprising Sophie Sinclair, Sophie Jackson, Jennifer Dodds, and Morrison, celebrated a hard-fought triumph against formidable opposition.
Pattern of Swearing Incidents at Winter Olympics
The incident represents the latest in a series of swearing controversies at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Just one day earlier, the Canadian men's curling team was involved in a similar situation during their match against Sweden.
That confrontation escalated into an argument over an alleged rule violation, with Swedish players accusing Canadian team members of touching stones after the hog line. Canadian curler Marc Kennedy was heard telling Sweden's Oskar Eriksson "You can f*** off" during the heated exchange.
Governing Body Issues Verbal Warning
World Curling, the sport's governing body, responded by issuing a verbal warning to Canadian officials regarding the language used by their men's player. In an official statement, World Curling confirmed: "Following the Friday evening session, World Curling spoke with the Canadian officials to issue a verbal warning regarding the language used by a Canadian men's player during the game."
The organisation also noted that while no rule violations were recorded during the three ends in which deliveries were monitored, umpiring had been increased from Saturday's afternoon session as a precautionary measure.
Team GB's Own Language Controversies
Team GB has not been immune to similar incidents during the Winter Olympics. Earlier in the tournament, expletives were picked up during the British women's match against South Korea, prompting another BBC apology for any offence caused to viewers.
These repeated incidents have highlighted the challenges of live sports broadcasting, where competitors' unfiltered reactions can sometimes reach audiences despite broadcasters' best efforts to maintain decorum.
Winter Olympics Broadcasting Details
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, running from February 6-22, features extensive coverage across multiple platforms. Discovery+ via Prime Video is providing more than 850 hours of live action throughout the event.
For £3.99, viewers can access the discovery+ Entertainment subscription, which includes TNT Sports 2 as the dedicated channel for 24/7 Olympic coverage throughout the games.
