The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced the introduction of the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in 2008, with a second event also confirmed for 2009.

As voted on by the WCF's Member Associations at the Semi-Annual General Assembly held during the 2006 Le Gruyère European Curling Championships in Basel, Mixed Doubles curling will make its world championship debut in 2008.

"The delivery of a formal World Curling Championship for Mixed Doubles competition will best serve the membership's keen interest in advancing curling's impact on the Olympic Winter Games," said Les Harrison, WCF President.

"Mixed Doubles is a thrilling style of curling, it's very aggressive and high-scoring. It also provides a new impetus for member associations and their curling clubs to increase participation growth in their communities."

The venue and competition format for the new championship will be confirmed at the WCF annual meetings in Aomori, Japan, during March's World Women's Curling Championships, the first time Asia will host one of the WCF's premiere events.

This is the second major international championship featuring Mixed Doubles. The Continental Cup of Curling, contested four times since 2002, includes the format in a Ryder Cup-style series between Team Europe and Team North America. The 2006 Continental Cup, recently contested in British Columbia, Canada, saw Europe defeat North America to tie the series at 2-2.

Picture (c) 2006 by Mike Burns/CCA