CURLING AT ITS BEST!
18. 2. 2009
The Curling Champions Tour (CCT) will kick off the upcoming Olympic Curling Season 2009/10 in September. Playing in this unique and attractive series the best European, North American and Asian teams challenge each other at several European tournaments. A number of them will play for Olympic medals in Vancouver as well. When the final accounting is settled in March: Who will be the leader on the “money list“ in both the women’s and the men’s section? The best of the list will determine the „Champion of the Year“!
The CCT is synonymous to the Champions League in other sports. Winning this, means being a real “Champion”.
In the last 10 years the Tour (so far known as World Curling Tour Europe) has established a unique cohesive competition series. Comparable to several World Cups, the PGA- or ATP Tour the top events of European Curling competitions have been brought together. Bringing in the new name, Tour Executive Director Armin Harder is expecting a far better positioning on the international sport calendar and its overall awareness. “Together with our partners, local committees and athletes we provide a premium product of a clean and telegenic Olympic Wintersport with high potential for growth”.
CCT Tournaments are already played in Norway, Sweden, Scotland, CzechRepublic, Russia and Switzerland. The Tour will be continuously expanded. Starting with the upcoming season, CCT in particular wants to host such a tournament in Germany again.
The tournaments will take place in a 2 week rhythm and mostly start on Friday. Playing a so called Triple Knock Out or Group Play Modus each team has to complete a tough program with up to 7 matches, before the Top 8 are qualified for the Play Offs. Semi-finals and finals are going to be covered by TV and IP-TV.
The CCT will still continue its close cooperation with the North American World Curling Tour. Thus participating teams have the opportunity to credit their own ranking with the prize money of both tours.