What is World Curling?
World Curling is the world governing body of the sport — founded in 1966 as an offshoot of Scotland's Royal Caledonian Curling Club, long known as the World Curling Federation, and renamed in 2024. It unites 70+ national associations from its Perth headquarters.[1] [2]
What does it govern?
The rules of play; the World Championships across men's, women's, mixed, mixed doubles, junior, senior and wheelchair curling; world rankings; and Olympic and Paralympic curling with the IOC and IPC — the qualification pathway every national program runs through.[2] [3]
Who leads it?
President Beau Welling of the United States, elected in 2022 — the first American to lead the federation, succeeding Kate Caithness's twelve-year term.[4]
Why does it matter?
Every international curling credential — world rankings, championship medals, Olympic berths — runs through World Curling and its member associations: the official record of the sport beyond national borders.[2] [3]
References
- World Curling — Past presidents & history. Accessed August 2026.
- World Curling — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- World Curling — Olympic Winter Games. Accessed August 2026.
- USA Curling — Beau Welling, World Curling president. Accessed August 2026.