Curling Canada Declines to Pursue Sanctions Against Sweden Over Filming Allegations
Canadian curling officials have announced they will not file a formal complaint or seek sanctions against Sweden regarding allegations of unsanctioned filming during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. This decision effectively lowers the temperature around a controversy that has captivated the curling world over the past weekend.
Weekend Incident Sparks International Controversy
The conflict began when Canadian third Marc Kennedy exchanged heated words with a Swedish player who accused him of double touching stones after the hog line during their match. The Canadians subsequently raised their own allegations, suggesting that Swedish supporters or individuals connected to Team Niklas Edin had been improperly filming the hog line from the spectator stands.
On Sunday, Curling Canada spokesperson Kyle Jahns stated clearly: "Curling Canada is not pursuing sanctions for potential illegal filming. We will concentrate on competing on the field of play and not the extracurriculars." He emphasized that the organization's primary focus remains supporting athletes to perform at their highest level for themselves, their teammates, their families, and all of Canada.
Swedish Response and Denials
Team Sweden has indicated they will not request an investigation into Friday's game either. Niklas Edin, the Swedish skip, denied the filming allegations, explaining that the viral video showing Kennedy's finger grazing the stone after release was captured by Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Edin noted that his team has long had concerns about Kennedy's delivery technique and that Swedish media independently chose to highlight this issue.
Canada had questioned whether the video, apparently shot from the stands, complied with strict Olympic Broadcasting Services regulations governing filming in Olympic venues. Some Canadian officials even suggested the Swedes might have been attempting to set them up with the footage.
World Curling Responds with Rule Clarifications
The double touching controversy has dominated discussions at the Olympic bonspiel, prompting World Curling to enhance hog line monitoring following the Kennedy incident. The international federation issued a statement clarifying rules around stone delivery, specifically addressing contact with the granite after releasing the handle.
"During forward motion, touching the granite of the stone is not allowed," World Curling declared. "This will result in the stone being removed from play." The organization cited rule R.5(d), which states that "The curling stone must be delivered using the handle of the stone."
World Curling also issued warnings about the use of expletives during play, for which Kennedy has since apologized.
Impact on Tournament Play and Teams
Team Brad Jacobs currently holds a 3-1 record heading into Sunday night's game against China, following a loss to Switzerland where a Swiss player also raised concerns about Kennedy's delivery. Kennedy acknowledged he cannot definitively say he has never touched the granite after releasing the handle but emphasized he has never done so with intent to cheat. Officials monitoring the hog line have not removed any of his stones from play.
However, officials in other matches have enforced the rule more strictly. Most recently, they removed a stone thrown by Great Britain's Bobby Lammie during the ninth end of their game against Germany. Officials also pulled one of Rachel Homan's stones in Canada's loss to Switzerland on Saturday, a decision that left Homan visibly frustrated.
Meanwhile, Team Edin has struggled in their gold medal defense, falling to a 1-4 record, with team members suggesting the controversy has negatively affected their performance.
Broadcasting Regulations and Media Response
Regarding the filming allegations, Olympic Broadcasting Services informed media outlets they are unaware who captured the controversial clip but confirmed that filming in Olympic venues is restricted to accredited media rights holders who have acquired broadcast rights from the International Olympic Committee. Media inquiries to the Swedish broadcaster allegedly responsible for the footage have not yet received responses.
The resolution of this conflict allows both teams to refocus on competition as the Olympic tournament continues, though the incident has highlighted the intense scrutiny and pressure surrounding elite curling at the international level.
