"The world of curling has spent decades trying to figure out a way to raise its profile beyond the once-every-four-years curiosity it becomes during the Winter Olympics. Turns out, all it took was a graze of a finger on a 40ish-pound piece of granite, an allegation caught on camera followed by an impassioned expletive-laden response. Social media and the white-hot spotlight that only the Games provide did the rest."
"The animated back-and-forth between Sweden's Oskar Eriksson and Canada's Marc Kennedy during a match Saturday night when Eriksson accused Kennedy of an illegal double touch managed to do in a handful of seconds what years of promotion by those within the sport that looks like a combination of shuffleboard, chess and vacuuming the living room could not: cut through the noise to push it to the front of the line, ahead of the skiers and skaters and snowboarders that typically dominate the conversation."
A filmed on-ice incident during an Olympic curling match, in which Sweden's Oskar Eriksson accused Canada's Marc Kennedy of an illegal double touch after a finger grazed the stone, triggered an expletive-laden reaction and viral attention. Social media and Olympic spotlight amplified the exchange, drawing mainstream outlets and casual viewers. Swiss curler Alina Paetz noted unusual coverage, and Canadian Emma Miskew said publicity can help grow curling while conceding this episode was exaggerated. The episode sparked debate about whether controversy-driven attention matters more than showcasing precise shots and dramatic play as ways to build the sport's fanbase.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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