Looking back, OQE 2021 - Leeuwarden.
Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) is over. The Czech Republic participated in it for the third time, always in both main categories. In the current Olympic cycle, the couple Zuzana and Tomáš Paul managed to slip into the main Olympic competition in the added category of Mixed Doubles (for the first time at the 2018 Olympic Games). They managed to do it in the last match of this year's World Championships MD against the Americans, and thanks to this win, the Czech Republic is sending curlers into the fight for Olympic medals for the first time in its history. Their participation is a confirmation of the pair's position in the international rankings. Traditional curling has offered the Czechs yet another chance to make it to Beijing. The so-called "Olympic Qualification Event". This year it was held a little unexpectedly in Holland and even less expectedly on the area in the middle of the speed skating oval. The latter circumstance was particularly reflected in the quality of the ice surface. The Icemakers had to deal with cooling failures, air eddies, temperature changes, etc. The result of their efforts was probably the maximum possible. The organisers had difficulty explaining to the Asian representatives that one of the main sponsors was a sex shop. The overall unfavourable local epidemiological situation complicated logistics and organisation. And the results? Czech teams did not qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics. As usual, the men were closer to success. The two lives fought after the main part offered a parallel with a similar event eight years ago (2013, Fuessen, Germany). In the end, however, the Czechs succumbed to the Italians and the Danes in the decisive matches. In addition to these countries, the Norwegians succeeded in the men's event. In the women's event, the Scots, Japanese and Koreans did well. So let's cheer together and keep our fingers crossed for Zuzka and Tomáš in the Mixed Doubles competition, and for traditional curling slowly make plans for the next Olympic cycle, which will culminate in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2026.
rnphoto: Czech flag on the promotional banner for OQE 2021