Team GB Caught in Curling Controversy at Winter Olympics
Team GB's men's curling team has become entangled in the ongoing controversy that has swept through the curling event at the Winter Olympics. During their round robin match against Germany on Sunday, a stone was removed from play due to an alleged double touch violation, drawing the attention of officials and reigniting debates over fair play in the sport.
Rule Violation Sparks Official Intervention
In the ninth end of the match, Bobby Lammie of Team GB was accused of touching the granite stone post-release. Subsequent images revealed his finger accidentally brushing against the stone, leading officials to enforce the rule strictly. The stone was promptly removed from the house, marking a significant moment in the game.
This incident follows a fiery dispute last week between Canada and Sweden, where Swedish players accused Canadian star Marc Kennedy of double-touching stones after release. The accusation sparked a profanity-laden retort from Kennedy, including telling his opponent to 'f**k off,' and tensions escalated as images later seemed to confirm the violation.
World Curling Clarifies Rules Amid Cheating Storm
In response to the controversy, World Curling issued a statement to clarify the rules. "A stone must be clearly released from the hand before it reaches the hog line at the delivery end," they stated. "If the player fails to do so, the stone is immediately removed from play by the delivering team."
The statement further explained: "If a hog line violation stone is not immediately removed and strikes another stone, the delivered stone must be removed from play by the delivering team, and any displaced stones are replaced, by the non-offending team, to their positions prior to the violation taking place." This clarification has led to stricter enforcement by officials, as seen in the Team GB match.
Team GB's Response and Match Outcomes
Despite the setback, Team GB accepted the penalty without protest and went on to secure a 9-4 victory over Germany, moving them closer to semi-final qualification. However, they later faced a narrow 6-5 defeat against Switzerland in an extra end, adding to the drama of the competition.
The team is scheduled to return to the ice at 1:05pm on Monday for their next round robin match against Norway, with hopes of advancing in the tournament.
Players Reflect on Fair Play and Regulation
Reflecting on the controversy, Team GB's Bruce Mouat offered a clear perspective after his team's 7-4 triumph over Czechia over the weekend. "Yeah, we do [regulate ourselves], we all know the rules and what is supposed to happen," he stated. "Marc's been around for a long time and he knows what's happening. I think we all trust that fair play is a big thing in our sport and we just hope that everyone sticks to it."
Mouat added: "I'm sure Marc didn't mean anything by it, he just got caught on TV doing it. It's a tough situation but it's out there now and should be regulated by everyone including the athletes." His comments highlight the importance of self-regulation and integrity in curling, even as external scrutiny increases.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games continue from February 6-22, with fans able to watch over 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video. The £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription provides access to TNT Sports 2, offering 24/7 Olympic coverage throughout the event.
