(by Jeff Timson)
The Ford World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Richardson, gets underway Saturday at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge.
It’s the 12th time that Canada has hosted the World Women’s Championship since it began in 1979 in Perth, Scotland. The last time the Ford World Women’s was held in Alberta was in 2006 in Grande Prairie, when won by Sweden’s Anette Norberg.
Competing teams set for the 2012 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship in Lethbridge (Photo Michael Burns)
The Ford Motor Company of Canada began its involvement as title sponsor of the World Championships in 1995 in Brandon, Manitoba. This marks its 18th year of title sponsorship.
Twelve countries will be represented in the nine-day competition, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs starting Friday, March 23 after the conclusion of the round robin. The first and second place teams face off in the Page 1-2 game, with the winner advancing to the gold medal final on Sunday, while the loser goes to the semi-final Saturday evening.
The third and fourth place teams meet in the Page 3-4 game, with the winner advancing to the semi-final, while the loser goes to the bronze medal game Sunday morning to play the semi-final loser. The Ford World Women’s gold medal final is slated for Sunday, March 25 at 4:30 pm MT/7:30 pm AT.
TSN (RDS in Quebec) will carry all Team Canada games throughout the round robin, followed by the playoffs.