In the Winter Olympic curling event, players chant words such as "Hurry" meaning to start brushing ice and "Whoa" to stop brushing ice to indicate teammates who are brushing ice.
Unlike curling, wheelchair curling in the Winter Paralympics is not allowed to brush ice, but shouts of "Hurry" and "Whoa" can still be heard on the field. Why? Netizens' brains are wide open——
"Like voice-activated curling!" "Convey ideas to curling."
Some netizens speculated that this was to cheer themselves up, or to cheer up teammates. In fact, although wheelchair curling only has one person to shoot per shot, there have always been teammates behind it as "support". When curling in a wheelchair, teammates need to hold the thrower's wheelchair to ensure that the curler is shot with the correct force.
China's Wang Haitao (right) throws a pot during a match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Chao
What's even more interesting is that on March 5, when the Chinese team first played against Canada at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, China's Chen Jianxin shouted at the curling after a pot throw: "Let's have some big brothers!" It seems that the athletes have become "buddies" with curling.
China's Chen Jianxin (third from right) throws a jug during the match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Chao
Wheelchair curling is different from curling
Curling is known as "chess on ice" and is a sport that tests both mind and physical abilities. Wheelchair curling is roughly the same as the rules of curling competitions, both in a curling field 44.5 meters long and 5 meters wide.
But wheelchair curling is also very different from curling.
First, the wheelchair curling competition is a mixed team competition of curling, each team must have 1 female athlete, and there will only be 1 gold medal in the Winter Paralympic Games;
Second, wheelchair curling is not allowed to brush ice, and athletes have no chance to remedy after they shoot;
Third, there are 10 curling rounds and only 8 rounds for wheelchair curling;
Fourth, wheelchair curling does not have a starter, when curling, the wheelchair is placed in the middle of two wheelchair lines, wheelchair curler sits on a static wheelchair, with a special throwing putter stuck curling, arms and wrists through the putter to push the curling out.
Chinese coach Yue Qingshuang (center) coach coaches the players during the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi
Why choose wheelchair curling for the countdown to the opening ceremony?
The countdown to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games on the evening of the 4th coincided with wheelchair curlers launching curling to the camp. Why did you choose wheelchair curling?
"Wheelchair curling is the pride of Chinese." Opening ceremony director Shen Chen said. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympic Games, the Chinese wheelchair curling team won the championship, achieving a breakthrough of zero gold medals for the Chinese delegation to the Winter Paralympic Games, so the idea of wheelchair curling was incorporated into the countdown very early.
Later, according to the feedback of the International Paralympic Committee, the director team added 6 major demonstrations to show the unity and equality of sports, "but we still want to ensure the emergence of wheelchair curling." Shen Chen explained that sliding forward curling also represents disabled people breaking barriers, crossing all obstacles, and finally reaching the top, "I think it will definitely impress everyone." From the traditional culture represented by the twenty-four solar terms at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games to the sportsmanship at the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympic Games, the core coincides. ”
Chinese wheelchair curling team
Come on!
Source: Beijing Daily WeChat public account | Reporter Qian Qian
Beijing Daily (ID: Beijing_Daily) Comprehensive Beijing Daily Client (Reporter Gao Qian), Guangming Daily, Xinhua News Agency, @Migu Sports, Previous Reports [Please indicate the source: Beijing Daily WeChat public account]
Editor: Qian Qian
Process Editor: Dan Guo