Paralympic Scandal: Curling Stones Stolen in Milan Cortina

The world of curling has been rocked once again, this time at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games, where two stones slated for use in the wheelchair curling event have been stolen. The incident follows a recent scandal during the Olympics, where the Canadian team was accused of cheating in the men’s curling competition.

According to World Curling, local authorities are currently investigating the theft of the granite rocks from the Curling Olympic Stadium. Fortunately, the stolen stones were spare, and replacement stones have been brought in to ensure the competition can continue without disruption.

The Milan Cortina Paralympics are set to officially kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday, with the wheelchair curling schedule already underway. The sport, which tends to fly under the radar outside of the Olympics, has been thrust into the spotlight following the recent scandals.

Previous Scandal

During the Olympic men’s curling competition, Oskar Eriksson of Sweden accused Marc Kennedy, Canada’s vice skip, of double-touching the rock after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. The incident sparked a heated response from Kennedy, who denied any wrongdoing. Canada was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing and went on to win their first gold in men’s curling since the 2014 Sochi Games.

The Canadian women’s team had also been accused of the same double-touch violation, adding to the controversy surrounding the sport.

No Impact on Competition

Despite the theft of the curling stones, World Curling has confirmed that the replacement stones have been brought up to the same specifications as the rest of the set, ensuring that the competition can continue without any disruption. The spare stones are now being used, and the event is proceeding as scheduled.

For more information on the Paralympic Games, visit the AP Winter Paralympics hub.