DENVER—The U.S. Olympic curling team trials will be held in the northwest Denver suburb of Broomfield in February 2009.
The selection, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Curling Association, was first reported in the Bismarck, N.D., Tribune. The tournament will also serve as the 2009 national championships, with the winning teams advancing to the world championships.
Ten men’s and 10 women’s teams are expected to compete in the trials Feb. 21-28, 2009, at the 7,000-seat Broomfield Event Center.
Also bidding for the even were Bismarck; Fairbanks, Alaska; Milwaukee; and Rochester, N.Y. Bismarck, Rochester and Denver were finalists.
Bismarck hosted the 2002 world championships and four other national curling tournaments between 1993 and 1995.
Denver’s bid was part of campaign to land more national and international sports events, said Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission.
“This prestigious event is a major success for the community,” he said.
Rick Patzke, chief operating officer of the U.S. Curling Association, said Denver could “raise the bar” for curling interest because of its size.
“If we can make it an entertainment event in Denver, that should take this model and grow it in other areas,” he said.
The 2010 Olympics will be in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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