BELFAST -- The Maine Games is adding curling to the 2006 line up of sports competitions with a bonspiel scheduled for Saturday, February 4, at the Belfast Curling Center on Rt. 3.
“This is such a unique and intriguing sport,” said Maine Games Executive Director, Jeff Scully. “With the popularity of curling around the Belfast area, I think that it’s only natural that we consider adding this sport during an Olympic year when the sport will get a little national exposure on television.”
Curling is very popular in Canada and most of the world’s curlers live north of the border, but the Belfast Curling Club boasts over 120 members. As the only active curling club in the state, most of the participants in this event will come from the local area, however, the Maine Games Curling Championships are open to anyone from Maine who has an interest in learning the game, or taking part as an athlete or a spectator. “I suspect that there are any number of Canadians who now live in Maine who have extensive curling experience,” suggests Scully. “This event would be a perfect way for these people to meet other curling enthusiasts as well as to get back in the game.”
Curling is a technical sport combining coordination, dexterity, and strategy. While physical in nature, it is also a thinking person’s game as it also involves reasoning and a general understanding of physics. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to compete this year.
Maine Games curling commissioner, Doug Coffin sees this event as a way to grow the sport in Maine. “I envision this being instructed and coached by Belfast curlers but composed of novice curlers trying it out for the first time.” While the event will be open to all, including novices and wheelchair athletes, anyone with an interest in seeing curling gain in popularity can participate as an athlete or a volunteer.
The Maine Games Curling Championships will begin accepting registrations on November 1, and will be taken on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum number of entrants capped at 48. The deadline for registrations, if they are still open will be January 21, 2006. The entry fee for this event is $30 per person and includes Maine Games event T-shirt, lunch and dinner.
Registrations can be made online at www.mainegames.org. or participants can download a registration form from that website as well. For more information, contact the Maine Games at: info@mainegames.org, or call 207-284-2003.
The Maine Games is a multi-event Olympic-style sports festival offering participation opportunities to amateur athletes from ages 3 to 83. As a member of the National Congress of State Games, the Maine Games is able to offer some athletes the opportunity to qualify for the State Games of America, held every other year. The 2007 State Games of America will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado in August.
Since 2003, the Maine Games has offered thousands of athletes the chance to set goals, compete, exhibit sportsmanship and share in the camaraderie special to athletics. Maine Games athletes come from every county and hundreds of Maine communities each year. For more information about the Maine Games log on to www.mainegames.org.
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