It is my pleasure to welcome you to the E.C.F. website. It is our intention that this site become ever more comprehensive, reflecting the ever wider spectrum of E.C.F. activity.   The last eight years were characterized by an exponential growth of interest in our Olympic sport, with corresponding growth in E.C.F. membership. That our new members were integrated so "seamlessly" into European curling, in full respect of the traditions of our fine sport, is in great measure thanks to our outgoing President, Mr. Malcolm Richardson, and his officers.   Whilst looking forward to welcoming even more members, and to furthering the interests of European curling on the worldwide stage, the E.C.F.'s task for the coming years is to be of ever greater service to its curlers by widening the scope of its activity. We look forward to meeting all the various challenges that await us!   I take this opportunity to wish all our curlers, and their families, all the best... and, of course, obedient stones!     ANDREW FERGUSON-SMITH, M.A. (Oxon.) President European Curling Federation FOR ARCHIVED NEWS PLEASE CLICK HERE EMCC 2009 GOES ONLINE! June 6, 2009 The Organising Committee of the 2009 European Mixed Curling Championship at Prague, Czech Republic goes online! All details about the championship including information about packages and hotel booking forms can now be viewed at http://emcc2009.curling.cz/. A field of 24 nations will participate in this 5th edition of the European Mixed Curling Championship! At the same time the European Curling Federation wishes to announce that in Prague an ECF Special General Meeting will be convened on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. to decide on a new ECC playing system, better suited to today’s considerable national participation. The formal calling notice along with the agenda will be distributed by the ECF Secretariat shortly.     EUROPEAN MIXED CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 April 18, 2009 Following discussions in Moncton last week, the E.C.F. is pleased to confirm that the European Mixed Curling Championship 2009 will be celebrated in Prague, CZE from September 26 until October 3, 2009. We would like to thank the Czech Curling Association for its efforts, in a difficult economic climate, to organize this championship in the conditions, and respecting the calendar, to which we are accustomed. We look forward to seeing as many member nations as possible respresented on the ice in this delightful city!   In accordance with the resolution passed at our Annual General Meeting 2008 a Special General Meeting of the E.C.F. will be convened during EMCC 2009, at a date and time soon to be announced, to consider a new ECC playing system, better suited to today’s considerable national participation. WORKSHOP AND TEST EVENT IN PRAGUE (CZE) FOR CEREBRAL PALSY AND VISUAL IMPAIRED CURLERS April 4, 2009 From May 8-10, 2009 there will be held a workshop/test event in Prague for two new Curling disability categories: cerebral palsy and visual impaired. The aim of this test event is to open new categories for those athletes who do not fit into the wheelchair Curling class. Even if the event is on a national basis “only”, foreign coaches and/or team managers are more than welcome to take part as observers and to discuss with the Czech organizers how disabled Curling can be helped in general. The system of play will be as close to the ordinary curling rules and wheelchair curling rules as possible (eg. no sweeping, etc.). As new disabled sports often have difficulties in getting enough athletes to form a team, there will be playing pairs during this test event. Video records and pictures of this workshop will be presented also in Füssen 1st to 2nd July 2009. Should the event be successful, there might be organised a similar international event next year. For further information please contact the Czech Curling Association. ECF DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT March 28, 2009 Whenever possible, the E.C.F. likes to express its gratitude for the support of the authorities of localities hosting the European Mixed Curling Championship, and for the hard work of its Local Organizing Committees, by supporting the development of curling in the area.   Andrew Ferguson-Smith was very happy recently to be present in Kitzbühel, which organized a memorable EMCC 2008, to present a cheque for €15.000 to Richard Obermoser and Traudi Koudelka (President and Vice-President of the EMCC Kitzbühel 2008 Organizing Committee), to be used for approved curling development projects in the Kitzbühel area. ECC 2009 ABERDEEN TICKET INFO March 16, 2009 The RCCC has asked us to publish the following information: 2009 European Curling Championships will be held in Aberdeen 5-12 December 2009.  You can now guarantee yourself the same seat for the whole championships with a full event season ticket. Full season tickets include access to all draws, including Round Robin,Tie-breakers, Semi final, Bronze medal and Championship Final.  This is a total of 24 draws covering both the men’s and women’s events. Any tie-breakers will add draws to this number.  See all the action with a season ticket for just £99.00 (inclusive of VAT). A child's pass is £57.50 The season ticket passes are transferable should you wish someone to use your seat if you are unable to make a particular draw. However adults will not be permitted to use a child’s seasonticket. If you wish seats beside friends/relatives then please apply as a group using one form for all your tickets. To buy your tickets please click  HERE   to visit the event web-site