Done.

It's evaluation time. The 2022 European Championships are in the past. The champions are the Danes, with one of curling's icons, Peja Lindholm, on the implementation team, and the European champions are the Scots (skip Bruce Mouat). Italy and Switzerland had representatives in both play-offs. The Danes and Spaniards fall into the B-team and on the women's side the Hungarians and Latvians. On the other hand, the Dutch, Finns, Estonians and Czechs are back among the elite. The European Curling Championships is a special competition. For many countries, it is mainly about qualifying their national teams for the upcoming World Championships, and the eventual supersection of the European Championships is just a bonus. For the current season it has already been decided who will participate in the World Championships. Under the current system, there is no pathway to the WC for teams from Group B. Previously there was a possibility in the form of a "challenge game" or even a special qualifying tournament. For that reason, this morning's Group B final did not have a very tense atmosphere. The teams were mainly fighting for the colour of the medal and the chance to hear their own anthem. The Dutch beat the Finns and the Czechs lost to the Estonians. What is important for the Czech team is that they will take home the inclusion of both national teams in Group A for next year and the boys will also play the World Championships. There were some special moments that are a bit of food for thought. When the Dutch team was leading the Latvians twelve nil after four ends in the semi-final, they wanted to end the losing game because they realised that their opponent was much better and the result could not be reversed. However, they still had to go through four more ends in accordance with the rules, during which the players of both teams just threw stones through the rings from one side to the other, and it really wasn't curling anymore. Completely absent, of course, was the electronic checking of the hog line throw, while rigorously making sure that no player or coach entered the concourse area with their hood loosely placed on their back. I can imagine a better functioning timekeeper and a more comfortable environment for coaches and trainers. On the other hand, I must pay tribute to the Swedes, led by Rickard Hallstroem, who managed the organisation of the whole championship very well, despite having only a few months to do so. Everyone was kind, helpful, friendly and smiling. We will leave Ostersund tomorrow with good feelings and we will look forward to the next major event held in Sweden. And of course thanks to all the players for the excellent representation of the Czech Republic and Czech curling.