Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy — Curling’s reputation for calm precision has been shaken at the 2026 Winter Olympics after Canada’s 8–6 men’s round-robin win over Sweden triggered accusations of cheating, heated exchanges and a swift officiating response.
According to BBC Sport, the controversy erupted when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of “double-touching” a stone — an illegal action if a player makes contact with the granite after releasing it beyond the hog line. Sweden argued the touch could have influenced the stone’s path.
Kennedy strongly denied the allegation during the match and was heard responding angrily on the ice, an unusual scene in a sport that prides itself on etiquette and mutual respect. Despite Sweden’s protest, the result stood, with Canada securing the 8–6 victory.
The Rule at the Centre of the Storm
As outlined by BBC Sport, the delivery rule is clear:
A player must release the handle before the hog line.
Only the handle may be touched during delivery.
If the stone is illegally touched during its forward motion, it can be removed from play.At these Games, stones are fitted with electronic handles that light up if a player fails to release properly. However, there is currently no formal video review system in place to overturn in-game decisions.
The issue intensified after Sweden claimed to have video footage supporting their allegation. That led to further tension when suggestions emerged from the Canadian side that filming inside the venue may have breached Olympic protocols. Swedish representatives maintained any footage came from official broadcast sources
Women’s Match Adds Fuel
The controversy deepened when Canada’s women’s team lost 8–7 to Switzerland after an official ruled a stone had been illegally touched and removed it from play. The decision, reported by BBC Sport, heightened scrutiny around enforcement consistency.
New Officiating Measures
In response to the row, World Curling introduced additional on-ice monitoring of hog-line releases. As reported by BBC Sport, more officials were deployed to observe deliveries more closely. However, following feedback from teams and National Olympic Committees, the governing body clarified that enhanced monitoring would be applied in a more measured way rather than universally at every sheet.
World Curling reiterated that decisions made during play remain final and that no retroactive video intervention is permitted under current Olympic rules.
What Happens Next?
The incident has reignited debate about whether curling at the Olympic level should introduce a formal video review system, similar to other major sports. For now, the governing body has stood by its traditional officiating structure while promising clearer oversight.
At Milano Cortina 2026, the focus was meant to be on shot-making and medal races. Instead, curling has found itself confronting questions about technology, transparency and trust — issues that may shape the sport long after these Games conclude.
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