The challenge of obsession for the Gangwon Youth Olympics. Of course, there is no curling rink or ice rink… ‘Floor curling’ training on a special mat, falling on the ice and having trouble controlling the stone, giving the opposing team a “good game” despite losing all 7 games

Nigeria is the only African country to compete in the curling event at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics. It is said that this tournament is the second time that the Nigerian curling team actually played on ice. Unlike players from other countries, the Nigerian player (right) holds the support bar in his left hand because he is not yet accustomed to balancing on the ice.

“It was a ‘crazy idea’ for someone from a country where there is no ice, but I still decided that I had to bring curling to Nigeria.”

It was thanks to this ‘crazy idea’ of Sheila Daniel (20) that the African country Nigeria had a curling team. Mr. Sila, who grew up traveling between his native Nigeria and Germany following his father, a sports businessman, first encountered curling while playing club in Germany when he was in elementary school. He said he had tried winter sports like snowboarding and ice skating before, but thought they were impossible in Nigeria, where there is no snow and ice. On the other hand, he thought curling was worth a try and began to persuade his father.

Thanks to his daughter's persistent persuasion, her father, Mr. Damola Daniel (54), also took action. He founded the Nigeria Curling Federation in 2017 and served as its president, and traveled to schools across the country to gather children who wanted to learn curling. Seven years later, Mr. Sheila's younger brother Roy (17), Good News Charles (17), Nkoyo Oku (16), Oluwani Mifise Waleadeogun (16), and Fatiu Danmola (17). Five people, including Nigeria, participated in the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics as a representative of Nigeria. Mr. Sheila was also listed as a coach. Nigeria is the first African country to compete in Olympic curling in both adult and youth competitions.

This is what it looks like when Nigerian athletes train on slippery mats instead of ice in their home country.

There are no curling rinks or even ice rinks in Nigeria. They developed their skills by playing 'floor curling' on a mat made of slippery material instead of ice. The first time they played on ice was at the Group B Junior World Championships held in Finland in December 2022. This is the second Youth Olympics being held at the Gangneung Curling Center.

Although I won the right to participate in the Youth Olympic Games with more than a year left, the road to Korea was not easy. This is because the federation had a hard time raising the participation fee due to a lack of budget. They tried to raise money through the private donation site 'Go Fund Me', but even that was not enough. In the end, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) extended a helping hand and I was able to stand on the ice at the Gangneung Curling Center.

On the ice, everything was different. It wasn't easy to stand on the ice without support. Of course, I had a hard time getting the stone exactly to the target point. They gave up 133 points while winning 6 points, ending the mixed curling preliminary round of this tournament with a loss in all 7 matches. Still, he never lost his smile, extending his hand to the opposing team players at the end of each game and saying, “Good game.”

After finishing the game on the 24th, Danmola said, “I fell three times since the first game. “I need to practice brushing while moving more,” he said. “But it’s good to be able to learn.” “Predicaments make us stronger.” Oku said, “(In the second half of the game) the ice melts and the speed of the stone increases. “I had to slow down the speed of throwing the stone, but because I didn’t have much experience, the stone often went past the target point,” he said. “But my skills improved a lot during the competition.” “I have no regrets,” he said.

Coach Sheila said, “Until yesterday, the players fell on the ice at least once a day, but today they did not fall once. “I was proud to see everyone get up and play bravely every time they fell,” he said. “I am so jealous of the players who can compete in the Youth Olympics. “I’m too old now to come out,” he said with a laugh. Chairman Daniel also said, “Our players are just getting used to ‘real curling,’” adding, “We can find our way in any situation and adapt anywhere. “Through this competition, the players will advance to the next level,” he said.

The Nigerian curling team players were happy that they could step on 'real ice' formed by hardened snow on the ground, even on their way back to their lodgings after their loss. Starting on the 26th, they will once again challenge the 'cool running' of Nigerian curling by participating in the mixed doubles match, in which one male and one male player are paired together. 19가이드03