The Kelowna Curling Club, in Kelowna, Canada, is preparing to be the epicenter of tension and excitement in international curling. From December 5 to 18, 2025, the top teams still seeking their ticket to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will face off in a decisive tournament that marks the last chance to secure a spot. More than a championship, it will be a test of character, strategy, and passion, where every stone throw can change the fate of an entire country.

As the date approaches, the atmosphere is filled with anticipation. This qualifier will bring together men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles teams who have fought for years to stay among the world’s best but have not yet secured their Olympic berth. For many athletes, it will be the culmination of a cycle of sacrifice and intense training; for others, the opportunity to write a historic chapter in the story of their sport.

Men’s and women’s competitions: strategy, precision, and nerves of steel

The tournament will begin on Friday, December 5, with the women’s phase, followed by the men’s on Saturday, December 6. For six days, teams will compete in a round-robin format where every victory and defeat carries crucial weight. In the women’s category, Norway, United States, Japan, Turkey, and Estonia will compete, while the men’s category will feature United States, China, Japan, the Netherlands, and Korea. Tension will peak on Wednesday, December 10, when the finals will determine the first direct qualifiers.

Teams that do not secure a spot in the first phase will have a second chance on Thursday, December 11, in a repechage system that will test their mental and technical endurance. Every throw, every strategy on the ice sheet, will reflect the Olympic spirit and the passion of athletes striving to surpass their limits and represent their countries on one of the most prestigious stages of winter sports.

Mixed doubles: the last chance for the Olympic dream

After a day of rest, the focus will shift to the mixed doubles tournament, which will be contested by teams that qualified at the 2024 or 2025 World Championships but have not yet secured a spot. Divided into two groups — Group A (Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, and Turkey) and Group B (Australia, China, Denmark, Spain, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and New Zealand) — teams will play seven round-robin matches before the qualifying games that will determine the final two Olympic spots.

Thursday, December 18, will be the decisive moment: the winners of each group will face off, and the runners-up will have their last chance in a final showdown to claim the final spot. This tournament not only determines the qualifiers but also encapsulates the essence of Olympism: effort, resilience, and the opportunity to fulfill a long-awaited dream. For many athletes, Kelowna will be the last train to Milano Cortina 2026, a journey representing years of dedication and passion for curling.