World Curling has responded after controversy surrounded Canada’s narrow 8–6 victory over Sweden during a tense men’s round-robin curling match at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. The game drew widespread attention after Swedish players questioned whether a Canadian athlete had improperly touched a stone during delivery, raising concerns about adherence to competition rules. The disagreement quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.
Tensions grew after Swedish team members were seen discussing the issue during play, suggesting that a stone may have been touched twice before being fully released. As pressure mounted late in the match, emotions spilled over, and Canadian player Marc Kennedy responded sharply to the accusation. Despite the heated exchange, the game concluded with Canada securing the win, though the controversy overshadowed the result.
In response, World Curling confirmed that Canadian officials received a verbal warning regarding language used during the match, reminding teams that respectful conduct is expected at all times. Officials also emphasized that further violations of player conduct rules could lead to additional disciplinary measures if similar incidents occur in future matches.
Under curling regulations, players are allowed limited contact with the handle of a stone before it crosses the hog line, but touching the stone afterward is prohibited. Because video replay is not used to review such decisions, on-ice calls remain final. Following the incident, organizers announced that officials will now rotate between sheets to better monitor deliveries and help prevent disputes in upcoming games.