In early references to the game it is also called "coiting" or "kuting", names which continued to be used in some parts of Scotland.
Two of the earliest recorded clubs were Sanquhar, formed in 1774 and Wanlockhead, formed in 1777.
The game is generally believed to have been invented in 16th century Scotland, although two paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Elder depict Dutch peasants curling. Whatever the truth of the matter, outdoor curling was very popular in Scotland between the 16th and the 19th centuries when the climate was cold enough to ensure good ice conditions every winter and as a result the international governing body for curling, the World Curling Federation, is based in Perth, Scotland.
Curling has been an official sport in the Winter Olympics since the 1998 Winter Olympic Games (some sources also include the competition held in 1924 Winter Olympic Games as an official olympic tournament). |
