The Philippine National Curling Team is determined to show that a tropical country can shine in the ice sport of curling as they prepare to secure a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
The Philippine National Curling Team consisted of four Fil-Swiss players. Back in 2023, they made a mark by taking home a silver medal in the B-Division of the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Kelowna, Canada. They aim to replicate this success in October in Alberta to advance to the A-Division for the 2025 championships. The top two teams in this division will secure guaranteed spots in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“The sport of curling is like playing chess on ice. It’s a combination of strategy and physical skill. We have a huge advantage in the strategy part because we have the experience of the three guys who have played on the world stage,” said Alan Frei, Filipino-Swiss entrepreneur and spokesman of the team.
To further hone their skills, the team will also participate in an off-season tournament this August, starting with a match against the world’s top-ranked team, Italy. They are also targeting a podium finish at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, competing against top Asian countries like China and Korea.
The team hopes to raise awareness among Filipinos about their goals and efforts, aiming to inspire even more people. According to Frei, they have been shouldering their expenses, noting that the necessary step is to first achieve national recognition before asking for financial support from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and other possible sponsors.
To encourage more Filipino curlers, the team plans to organize exhibition tournaments in the Philippines and offer training sessions with support from the POC and national sports associations. The Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines, which the team is part of, also aims to double its membership from about 50 to 100 people this year.
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