One minute One sport: Curling, like playing chess on ice

CGTN Sports Scene has presented a special series called "One minute One Sport" to provide some simple and interesting facts about some of the events at the Winter Olympics. For this episode, let's take a look at curling.

As a sport defined by precision, strategy, and teamwork, curling is often likened to "chess on ice." Playing on a narrow sheet of ice, two teams alternately slide polished granite stones toward a circular target known as the house.

Players use brooms to sweep the ice in front of a moving stone in order to subtly control its speed and direction. Beneath its pace lies a highly tactical contest that demands concentration, communication, and strategical planning.

The origins of curling date back to late-16th-century in Scotland, where communities played the game on frozen ponds and lakes. As time went on, standardized rules, equipment, and ice preparation transformed curling into a modern competitive sport while preserving its strong tradition of sportsmanship.

Curling made its Olympic debut at the first Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924. It was finally listed as an official sport at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, with both the men's and women's events included.

By now, curling has become a highlight of the Winter Games with its unique blend of tradition, tactical depth, and dramatic late-game reversals that continue to captivate audiences.