The roster for Team World has been confirmed for the 2008 Continental Cup of Curling.

The Continental Cup of Curling will hold its sixth edition, December 18-21 in Camrose, Alberta, Canada and will feature six World teams (three male and three female) combined in a unique challenge event against six North American teams.

Previously known as Team Europe, Team World will feature two squads from China for the first time. Bingyu Wang led her women's team to a silver medal at the 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, Canada last March while Fengchun Wang's foursome finished fourth in their international debut at the recent 2008 World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, USA.

Joining the Chinese will be men's teams skipped by David Murdoch of Scotland and Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, and women's teams led by Anette Norberg of Sweden and Mirjam Ott of Switzerland.

Murdoch and Ulsrud finished first and second at the 2007 Le Gruyère European Championships and also finished second and third at the 2008 Worlds, behind champion Kevin Martin of Canada.

Norberg captured the 2007 European women's crown while Ott claimed bronze at the 2008 Ford Worlds.

"The WCF is extremely proud to include two teams from the Pacific Curling Federation in the Team World roster for the 2008 Continental Cup," said WCF president Les Harrison.

"The men's and women's teams from China are the first from their region to ever qualify to play in the Cup. The teams will now make Team World truly representative of the rest of the world outside North America as both are eager to demonstrate that the Pacific Zone has improved their skills to compete at the highest levels of world play."

Two curling legends will guide Team World in Camrose: Paal Trulsen of Norway, the 2002 Olympic Champion skip, is the Team Captain while Sweden's Peja Lindholm, a three-time world champion skip, will serve as coach.

"I am honoured and excited by this challenge," said Lindholm, who retired from competition in January.

"As a former player, three times, in the Continental Cup, I know how special it is and I look forward to coming back again.

"I know Paal really well and he knows me. We are good friends and we respect each other. We also shares the same values so I am sure our teamwork will be excellent."

Lindholm claims to be ready to deal with communication issues that may arise among team members who speak up to five different languages.

"Paal and I need to inform everyone, especially the rookies how the format works and what to expect during the week," said Lindholm.

"It is important for them to understand that this is like nothing they ever played before.

"An important function for us is to enable a communication forum among our players, before and during the event so we can share experiences and learn from each other within the team."

Patterned somewhat after golf's Ryder Cup, the Continental Cup of Curling is a four-day competition involving Team games (72 points), Mixed Doubles (36 points), Singles (32 points) and Skins games (260 points). The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner.

North America holds a 3-2 lead in championships since competition began in 2002. The Continental Cup of Curling is a joint venture of the World Curling Federation, Canadian Curling Association, and United States Curling Association.

Team North America, which will comprise athletes from Canada and the United States, will be announced at a later date. Television coverage, which will be provided by The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada, will also be confirmed.