(CCA) The 2011 World Financial Group Continental Cup, presented by Monsanto, gets underway Thursday at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert, Alberta.
It’s the seventh edition of the exciting and unique international four-day curling competition, patterned somewhat after golf’s Ryder Cup, featuring six teams from North America against six teams representing The World, in a variety of disciplines – Team Games (72 points), Mixed Doubles (36 points), Singles (32 points) and Skins (260 points). Each segment awards points for wins (or ties), with the first side to reach 201 points declared the winner.
Currently, North America and Team World are knotted at three wins apiece since the inaugural Continental Cup was contested in 2002 in Regina. North America won in 2002, 2004 (in Medicine Hat) and 2007 (in Medicine Hat). Team World (then Team Europe) won in 2003 (in Thunder Bay), 2006 (in Chilliwack) and 2008 (in Camrose). There were no Continental Cups in 2005 and 2009 because the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings (Canadian Curling Trials) to determine Canada’s representatives for the Winter Olympics were held during that time.
TSN, the exclusive television network for the Canadian Curling Association’s Season of Champions, will provide complete live coverage of the World Financial Group Continental Cup, a total of 28 hours.