Winter Olympics Cheating Scandal Escalates with Photographer Dispatch
The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina have been rocked by a major cheating controversy involving Canada's curling stars Marc Kennedy and Brad Jacobs. Swedish publication Aftonbladet has branded the Canadian team "cheats" and dispatched a photographer in a covert operation to capture evidence of alleged rule violations.
Swedish Newspaper's Secret Evidence Gathering
Aftonbladet claims they sent photographer Pontus Orre to document what they allege were instances of double-touching during Canada's match against Czechia on Monday. Double-touching, where a player makes contact with a moving stone after it crosses the hog line, is strictly prohibited in curling. The newspaper published photos they claim show Canadian skipper Brad Jacobs touching the granite while it was in motion.
Kennedy's Heated Exchange with Swedish Rival
The controversy began on Friday when Canadian curler Marc Kennedy engaged in an expletive-laden outburst toward Sweden's Oskar Eriksson. Eriksson accused Kennedy of touching his stone after it had crossed the hog line, with Reddit discussions suggesting the Swedish team had "pre-planned" their accusation against the Canadians.
Kennedy responded with visible shock, pointing toward himself and declaring: "I haven't done it once. You can f*** off." Eriksson countered: "I'll show you a video after the game. I'll show you a video where it's two meters over the hog line."
Switzerland Joins the Accusations
The scandal escalated further on Saturday when Switzerland also accused Kennedy of rule-breaking. Pablo Lachat-Couchepin raised concerns with Canadian coach Glenn Howard after believing he had witnessed a double tap during competition.
Kennedy's Defense and Concerns for Curling's Future
Following Canada's 8-2 victory over Czechia, Kennedy defended himself against the allegations. "I can guarantee that there is not a single double touch out there that is done intentionally to cheat," he stated. "I have 50 videos of people who... I'll go... But it's okay, we've talked about this so much already."
The Canadian curler expressed frustration with the situation, noting: "It's a shame it came up during the Olympics. We've all had to deal with it now. This game of trying to catch people red-handed, and all to win a medal, sucks."
Broader Implications for the Sport
Kennedy voiced serious concerns about curling's reputation and future direction. "Yes, maybe I'm concerned about curling's reputation," he admitted. "I haven't thought about it that much, but there are probably some relationships that have been damaged by all this."
He highlighted the tension between curling's traditional self-governance and the increasing pressure for medals. "We love the idea of self-government without the need for judges. That's where I think curling is in a bad place right now and I think that comes from a thirst for medals."
Kennedy warned: "There are so many games in a year where you can't have referees at the level we have here. So if we don't have any of the soul of curling left, we're in trouble. I don't have the answers, but it will be interesting to see."
Media Access Issues
Aftonbladet also reported they attempted to secure an interview with Canadian skip Brad Jacobs but were turned away by Canada's press team, adding another layer to the developing controversy.
The scandal continues to unfold as the Winter Olympics enter their final week, casting a shadow over what is traditionally considered one of the most gentlemanly sports in the Olympic program.
