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Qualifying For 2010


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Thought I'd restart this topic since I couldn't find the old one!

Anyways, here's a summary of curling qualifying news! The season is well underway.

- The initial draws of the European Curling Championships are winding down and nothing looks like its to be unexpected so far. The top 8 European teams, men and women, go to the 2009 worlds which is the last chance for nations to rack up points in 2010 qualifying. On the women's side, Italy can get back into the points race with splitting their matches as Germany's Andrea Schopp is down in the rankings so far, and Germany has the number of points to beat in the race for 2010. Although Gaspari would need to rank just as high amongst the world's best in next springs championships in Korea.

- On the men's side there's no surprises so far, but Denmark is looking good in the standings should be easily able to qualify for 09 worlds and 2010 after bottom half performances in 07 and 08 by getting at least 9th in Moncton, which would surpass Australia, whom failed to qualify for the 09 worlds by coming in behind China and Japan at the Pacific championships. The Czech Republic is looking hot competitively and in good position to qualify for 09 worlds as well, but after spending a few years in the doldrums and having to fight off several up and coming B level European teams, they only have 1 point to their name and need a medal at worlds to make a good case for qualification. A side note, the post-Uusipaavalniemi team of Finland is getting back into it as they have finished their preliminary phase in the B tournament with a perfect record. As I mentioned last year, they were nothing short of humiliated and lost a relegation challenge in the 08 Euros, meaning they had missed the 08 worlds AND the 09 due to being in the B tournament. They will NOT qualify for 2010 which has opened up a place for other mens teams to get in on the action.

- As I mentioned earlier, Australia failed to qualify for mens worlds as did New Zealand, which means the 2010 Olympics will be void of Oceanian teams due to split appearances in 07 and 08. This is largely due to the successes of China, which has come onto the curling scene like a bomb, having both mens and womens teams place in the top 4 at last years worlds. This was the first time the Pacific Championships were held in China and both Chinese teams took gold in front of a home Beijing crowd.

- The Korean women have also qualified for 09 worlds along with China, but were guaranteed a spot anyways being the host. They have no 2010 points and aren't expected to place high enough to go to Vancouver. However, because they and China prevented Japan from going to worlds, Japan's place in 2010 is not quite guaranteed. Only an incredibly unlikely 1-2 placement of Italy and the Czech republic at worlds could compromise the irrepressible Japanese women's team stealing hearts in BC.

- For the first time, the two qualification spots from the Americas at worlds are not set in stone, on the men's side anyways, as Brazil has challenged the USA for the second spot at worlds (Canada is the host). Normally, the USA and Canada are the two automatic qualified from the Americas because they are the only two fully competitive member nations, i.e. they can mobilize and maintain a national team system and home base instead of a case-by-case scenario, which other member nations in the Americas have. Just as the case for the 1998 juniors when Italy, then a fledgling nation in curling itself, challenged the USA for a remaining junior worlds spot, Brazil's challenge has been accepted by team USA and a match series will be held to decide who goes to Moncton. Brazil is unlikely to succeed but it is another sign that winter sports are rapidly growing in interest in Brazil.

- As Canada is the host of 2010 it is guaranteed, of course, and in addition both American teams look good for qualifying too. The men's side can afford to be fairly low in 09 worlds rankings, and still qualify, but the American women must maintain at least the middle of the pack to comfortable qualify, especially if Italy is performing as well as they have been this year.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Great entry--thanks!

I believe that Canada's curlers are under even more pressure than our hockey players to get gold. Were it not for the one team rule, arguably 4 or 5 men's AND women's teams could qualify for the Games ahead of a number of lower-ranked teams.

I'm not arguing for that though: part of the WCF's responsibilities include developing the sport beyond its already well established nations.

But I do think Canada needs to rethink part of its qualification system: only teams that have medalled at Worlds (seniors or juniors) or the last OWG should be eligible for the trials. Twice we've sent "surprise" qualifiers, both of whose medals weren't the correct colours. ;)

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Its pretty astonishing that all six Canadian teams that entered Olympic Curling competitions all walked away whit a medal... But as jawnbc notes, only two of those team had the right kind of medal :P.

Anyway, some updates:

Here are the teams that are now officially qualified:

Men's event:

-Canada

-France

-Germany

-United Kingdom

-United States

Women's event:

-Canada

-China

-Denmark

-Switzerland

-Sweden

-United States

Situation, men:

Apart from the teams listed above, Norway, China and Switzerland should all qualify. Things look good for Finland and Denmark (both qualified for the '09 world) while they look bad for Australia and Sweden (both of which did not qualify for the '09 world).

Right now, here are the standings (from those four teams)

Sweden, 11 points

Australia, 10.5 points

Denmark: 7.5, Q

Finland: 6.5, Q

So basically, if Finland score 5 points (sole eight place) they are in, and Denmark is in whit 4 points (sole ninth place). So Sweden and Australia need to hope that Finland and Denmark (Finland or Denmark in the case of Sweden) have a very bad WC...

Now, for the womens:

Unless Italy finishes fourth or higher, or either Norway or South Korea wins gold, there shouldn't be any change to the current standings. That would mean that Japan, Russia, Germany and Great Britain would also qualify.

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As for hockey, the final qualification will be held between February 5 and 9 in Hannover, Oslo and Riga.

Group E

Germany

Slovenia

Austria

Japan

The final game between Germany and Slovenia should qualify for the Games, most likely Germany.

Group F

Norway

Denmark

France

Kazakhstan

Again the final game between Norway and Denmark will decide the winner, most likely Denmark.

Group G

Latvia

Italy

Ukraine

Hungary

It doesn't matter, its likely Latvia will go 3 and 0.

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Don't forget Brazil could qualify for the men.

Well, they need to beat the USA in a 5-game playoff and then win a medal at the worlds. Very, very unlikely (don't get me wrong, tough, I would love to see it happen...).

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Figure Skating qualifications will be decided at the 2009 World Championships in Los Angeles, this will not tell us who is exactly going, but will tell us the number of entries each country will have.

If there is one skater/team in particular discipline:

-Place in top 2: three entries

-Place in top 10: two entries

If there is two skaters/teams in particular discipline:

-Total placements equal or less than 13: three entries

-Total placements equal or less than 28: two entries

If there is three skaters/teams in particular discipline:

-Top two placements equal or less than 13: three entries

-Top two placements equal or less than 28: two entries

Based on the entries, each nation will have a particular way of deciding who fills the spots. This is generally decided at the national championships, and with the results over the past season. Highly ranked international skaters will basically fill their national spots regardless of placements at nationals. Nationals is usually used to decide who fills the other seats if available.

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Incidentally this is the same qualification process that is used for the world championships every year (the only difference being that countries do not qualify at least one skater/team automatically).

Anyway, for the first time ever, countries will be aloud to have up to three sleds (up to two) in the bobsled events (three countries per event for the men's and two countries per event for the women's).

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  • 1 month later...

Men's Hockey qualification results results:

Group E

Austria 4 - 3 Slovenia (OT)

Germany 7 - 1 Japan

1. Germany 3pts

2. Austria 2pts

3. Slovenia 1pt

4. Japan 0pt

Group F

Ukraine 3 - 2 Italy

Latvia 7 - 3 Hungary

Italy 4 - 1 Hungary

Latvia 4 - 2 Ukraine

1. Latvia 6pts

2. Ukraine 3pts (TB: 1-0)

3. Italy 3pts (TB: 1-0)

4. Hungary opt

Group G

Norway 2 - 1 Kazakhstan

France 2 - 1 Denmark (OT)

1. Norway 3 pts

2. France 2 pts

3. Denmark 1 pt

4. Kazakhstan 0 pt

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As for hockey, the final qualification will be held between February 5 and 9 in Hannover, Oslo and Riga.

Group E

Germany

Slovenia

Austria

Japan

The final game between Germany and Slovenia should qualify for the Games, most likely Germany.

Group F

Norway

Denmark

France

Kazakhstan

Again the final game between Norway and Denmark will decide the winner, most likely Denmark.

Group G

Latvia

Italy

Ukraine

Hungary

It doesn't matter, its likely Latvia will go 3 and 0.

Group E

Germany - 9

Austria - 5

Japan - 2

Slovenia - 2

Surprisingly poor Slovene showing, though correct in assuming Germany was the winner

Group F

Latvia - 9

Ukraine - 4

Italy - 3

Hungary - 1

Again not surprising, predictable

Group G

Norway - 9

Denmark - 4

Kazakhstan - 3

France - 1

I was wrong on this one, but very happy about it.

Edited by PM Faster
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Its the first time since Lillehamer that Norway will take part in the men's Olympic Ice Hockey tournament. Anyway, here are the Olympic preliminary groups:

Group A

Canada

United States

Switzerland

Norway

Group B

Russia

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Latvia

Group C

Sweden

Finland

Belarus

Germany

Canada-USA and Finland-Sweden should be the highlights of the seeding round.

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  • 1 month later...

Well, here is the field for the Women's Curling event at the 2010 Olympics:

Canada

Denmark

China

Switzerland

Sweden

United States

United Kingdoms

Russia

Germany

Japan

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  • 2 weeks later...

Speaking of men's curling the qualifiers are as follows

Canada

Norway

Scotland

United States of America

Germany

Switzerland

Denmark

China

France

Sweden

China's win today combined with already abysmal performances by Finland mean that those 10 nations will compete in Vancouver.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've heard that canada, south korea and austria were leading the winter olympics bidding..

i bet their players were trained very well in the best Ski and Snowboard resorts in the US and canada like the one in lake tahoe,.Unprecedented mountain, unbelievable 09-10’ season pass pricing from Alpine meadows in Lake Tahoe. Get your midweek + sunday adult pass for just $299 or rock the slightly filtered Alpine and Homewood seven day pass for $429. There are other steeply discounted options too so find the pass that fits. If you don’t want to pay now, no worries, financing is available. Lock in the savings now and pay later. Check out all the passes here. Hurry, these deals are only valid unit May 31st!

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  • 5 months later...

Well, qualification is over for Figure Skating whit the conclusion of the Nebelhorn Trophy. 30 countries qualified at least one figure skater (down from 35 in Turin), although it isn't impossible that new countries will be added if some NOCs vacate some of there sport (which pretty much always happens). Anyway, barring any change in the entry list, here are countries sorted by skaters:

-Russia, 16 skaters (2 men's, 2 women's, 3 pairs, 3 dance)

-United States, 15 skaters (3 men's, 2 women's, 2 pairs, 3 dance)

-Canada, 12 skaters (2 men's, 2 women's, 2 pairs, 2 dance)

-China, 9 skaters (1 women's, 3 pairs, 1 dance)

-Italy, 9 skaters (2 men's, 1 women's, 1 pairs, 2 dance)

-France, 8 skaters (2 men's, 1 pairs, 2 dance)

-Germany, 8 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's, 2 pairs, 1 dance)

-Japan, 8 skaters (3 men's, 3 women's, 1 dance)

-Great Britain, 7 skaters (1 women's, 1 pairs, 2 dance)

-Ukraine, 7 skaters (1 men's, 2 pairs, 1 dance)

-Estonia, 5 skaters (1 women's, 1 pairs, 1 dance)

-Switzerland, 5 skaters (1 men's, 2 women's, 1 pairs)

-Czech Republic, 4 skaters (2 men's, 1 dance)

-Georgia, 4 skaters (2 women's, 1 dance)

-Poland, 4 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's, 1 pairs)

-Finland, 3 skaters (1 men's, 2 women's)

-Hungary, 3 skaters (1 women's, 1 dance)

-Austria, 2 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's)

-Belgium, 2 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's)

-Israel, 2 skaters (1 dance)

-Kazakhstan, 2 skaters (2 men's)

-Lithuania, 2 skaters (1 dance)

-South Korea, 2 skaters (2 women's)

-Slovenia, 2 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's

-Spain, 2 skaters (1 men's, 1 women's)

-North Korea, 1 skater (1 men's)

-Romania, 1 skater (1 men's)

-Slovakia, 1 skater (1 women's)

-Sweden, 1 skater (1 men's)

-Turkey, 1 skater (1 women's)

Total: 30 NOCs, 30 men's, 30 women's, 20 pairs, 24 dance, 148 skaters.

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