Curling in Russia - 2008 Continental Cup of Curling - Team World vs Team North America

The Continental Cup of Curling will hold its sixth edition, December 18-21 in Camrose, Alberta, Canada and will feature six World teams (three male and three female) combined in a unique challenge event against six North American teams.

The roster for Team World has been confirmed for the 2008 Continental Cup of Curling.

Previously known as Team Europe, Team World will feature two squads from China for the first time. Bingyu Wang led her women's team to a silver medal at the 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, Canada last March while Fengchun Wang's foursome finished fourth in their international debut at the recent 2008 World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, USA.

Joining the Chinese will be men's teams skipped by David Murdoch of Scotland and Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, and women's teams led by Anette Norberg of Sweden and Mirjam Ott of Switzerland.

Murdoch and Ulsrud finished first and second at the 2007 Le Gruyere European Championships and also finished second and third at the 2008 Worlds, behind champion Kevin Martin of Canada.

Norberg captured the 2007 European women's crown while Ott claimed bronze at the 2008 Ford Worlds.

"The WCF is extremely proud to include two teams from the Pacific Curling Federation in the Team World roster for the 2008 Continental Cup," said WCF president Les Harrison. "The men's and women's teams from China are the first from their region to ever qualify to play in the Cup. The teams will now make Team World truly representative of the rest of the world outside North America as both are eager to demonstrate that the Pacific Zone has improved their skills to compete at the highest levels of world play."

Two curling legends will guide Team World in Camrose: Paal Trulsen of Norway, the 2002 Olympic Champion skip, is the Team Captain while Sweden's Peja Lindholm, a three-time world champion skip, will serve as coach.

"I am honoured and excited by this challenge," said Lindholm, who retired from competition in January. "As a former player, three times, in the Continental Cup, I know how special it is and I look forward to coming back again.

"I know Paal really well and he knows me. We are good friends and we respect each other. We also shares the same values so I am sure our teamwork will be excellent."

The Continental Cup of Curling is a four-day competition involving:
- Team games - 72 points
- Mixed Doubles - 36 points
- Singles - 32 points
- Skins games - 260 points

The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner.

- Team World / Team North America / Continental Cup of Curling History-

Team World:
1. David Murdoch (Scotland). 2006 World Men's Championship, 2007 European Men's Championship, Silver medalist of 2008 World Men's Championship, a three-time Cup participant.
2. Thomas Ulsrud (Norway). Bronze medalist of 2006 and 2008 World Men's Championships, silver medalist of 2007 European Men's Championship.
3. Fengchun Wang (China), 4 place at 2008 World Men's Championship
4. Bingyu Wang (China), silver medalist of 2008 World Women's Championship
5. Anette Norberg (Sweden), 2007 European Women's Champion, 2006 Olympic Champion
6. Mirjam Ott (Switzerland), bronze medalist of 2008 World Women's Championship

Team Captain: Pal Trulsen
Team Coach: Peja Lindholm

Team North America:
1. Kevin Martin (Canada). World Curling Champion 2008, three-time Canadian champion and 2002 Olympic silver medallist, competed in the inaugural Continental Cup in Regina in 2002, when North America scored a dramatic, last rock victory over the World in the final men's skins game between Martin and Sweden's Peja Lindholm.
2. Jennifer Jones (Canada). Чемпион Мира 2008, two-time Canadian champion, was a member of the winning North America side at the 2007 Cup
3. Craig Brown (USA). USA Curling Champion
4. Debbie McCormick (США). 2003 world champion, will be making her fourth Cup appearance for North America, after competing in 2003, 2006 and 2007
5. Kevin Koe (Canada). One of the famous curler in Canada
6. Stefanie Lawton (Canada). Canada Curling Cup 2008 owner, 2000 World Junior Championship Silver medalist

Team Captain: Russ Howard (2006 Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion)
Team coach: Jim Waite

Continental Cup of Curling History:

North America holds a 3-2 lead in championships since competition began in 2002. The Continental Cup of Curling is a joint venture of the World Curling Federation, Canadian Curling Association, and United States Curling Association.

In 2002, Team North America edged Team World at the inaugural 'Cup' in Regina, 207-193, decided by a thrilling men's final Skins game between Kevin Martin and Peja Lindholm, which went down to last rock.

In 2003, Team Europe turned the tables, winning 208-179 in Thunder Bay I
In 2004, Team North America recaptured the title by a 228-172 score in Medicine Hat, before a record four-day crowd of 42,317.

In November 2005, in Chilliwack, it was Europe's turn to even the score, winning 229-171, when all of the curling medallists from the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy participated.

In 2007, Team North America destroy the European team by winnig 110 - 278!

Some of the world's best-known teams have competed in past Continental Cups. In addition to this year's line-up, others include teams skipped by Canada's Kevin Martin, Brad Gushue, Kelley Law, Jennifer Jones and Colleen Jones, Norway's Pal Trulsen and Dordi Nordby, Sweden's Elisabet Gustafson, Anette Norberg and Peja Lindholm, Scotland's Rhona Martin, Jackie Lockhart and Hammy McMillan, Germany's Andrea Schopp, Andy Kapp and Finland's Markku Uusipaavalniemi.

The Continental Cup is a joint venture of the Canadian Curling Association, the United States Curling Association and the World Curling Federation.

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