BEIJING, Feb 9 (Reuters) – Newly-crowned Olympic mixed doubles champions Italy are hoping their victory in Beijing can pave the way for increased funding and participation in curling back home before they host the Winter Games in 2026.
Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner beat Norwegian duo Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten 8-5 to clinch gold at the National Aquatics Centre on Tuesday and win Italy’s first Olympic curling medal.
“I think it will be very important because people saw it and now there will be so many people who are going to try it out. It is not a very well-known sport, so that will be great.
Italy has no ‘roaring game’ tradition to speak of and, according to Italy coach Claudio Pescia, there are only three curling clubs and around 400 players in the country.
The Olympic debutant pair only teamed up ahead of the world championships last year in May and finished fifth but completed a perfect Games campaign on Tuesday, having won all of their matches en route to clinching gold.
Pescia is part of the coaching team alongside fellow former curler Violetta Caldart, who represented Italy when they last hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Turin.
“It’s a niche sport… and it will remain a niche sport. But this will help especially because in four years we are the host of the Olympic Winter Games. And this is very good when it comes to building new facilities,” Pescia added.
“Don’t forget that after the Olympics, usually after one year, people tend to forget this. So it’s our job now to take this momentum to carry on and to organise stuff for beginners.”
