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Transcript/ScriptCurling - Anisimova
HEAD: Curling: A Most Inclusive Sport Gains Momentum
PUBLISHED AT: 01/31/2022 at 8:25am
BYLINE: Liliya Anisimova
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: David Gogokhia
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA + News Agencies
PLATFORMS: TV only
COPY EDITORS: KE(1st), BR
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY:KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:))
((INTRO:))
[[Curling has only been an been an Olympic medal competition since 1998. And only in 2018 did the Olympic committee add a mixed doubles category to the games. But it’s a growing sport and Liliya Anisimova spoke to some people who love it. Anna Rice narrates her story.]]
((NARRATION))
Curling is a unique sport. Two teams of four take turns sliding a large, polished granite stone across the ice using special brooms or brushes to control its movement.
((Katherine Gourianova, Former Team USA Curling Member)) ((IN RUSIAN))
“When I was 13 or 14, the 2014 winter Olympics were under way and I watched curling on TV. And I remember thinking it was a fun and interesting sport. I hadn’t heard much about it before that. // ((02:20-)) So I signed up for curling at the Potomac Curling Club – I only wanted to try, they had a special session for beginners. For about two hours they taught us the basics and then we tried it ourselves. And I loved it!”
((NARRATION))
Katherine Gourianova’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Russia. When she was a child, her parents signed her up for figure skating, but it was curling that stole the young woman’s heart.
((Katherine Gourianova, Former Team USA Curling Member)) ((IN RUSSIAN))
“I think it’s a very strategic sport, you have to do a lot of thinking. I keep finding new facets of the game. Lots of sports are strategic, but to me, curling is very special.”
((NATS)) ((Katherine plays))
((NARRATION))
In 2019, Gourianova represented the U.S. at the 2019 World Mixed Championship.
((Katherine Gourianova, Former Team USA Curling Member)) ((IN RUSIAN))
“The Championship took place in Scotland, and it was fantastic! It’s hard to explain – but representing your country at such a level, surrounded by sportsmen from so many countries… Simply seeing how this sport unites people all around the world is amazing.”
((NARRATION))
Anyone can try their hand at curling here at the Potomac Curling Club, where Gourianova first learned the sport.
((Eli Clawson, Potomac Curling Club Coach))
“Sweeping is one of the hardest aspects of curling, because it requires a lot of communication, a lot of split-second decisions about if you need to sweep, if you need not sweep. The idea is to put as much weight on as you can while still feeling safe on the broom – and then move it as fast as possible!”
((NARRATION))
The coaches here are working to inspire these athletes and to help the sport gain momentum.
((Eric Clawson, Potomac Curling Club))
“The curling club here is to promote and bring this sport to the area that did not have the sport before… Middle America. And it has 300 members or so, and it’s a chance for them to explore, to learn the sport and just to become better!”
((NARRATION))
The U.S. Curling association has 135 clubs across the country with some 13,000 members. Eight of them – the very best – will represent the U.S. during the Winter Olympics that will take place in Beijing this year from February 4th to February 20th.
For Liliya Anisimova in Washington, Anna Rice,
VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsSport, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
BylineLiliya Anisimova
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
