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Host: Swiss Paraplegics Association

Marmi finds a new “house”. Now he wants to try curling, a sport in which Switzerland is a leader. The “house” in question plays an important role in his plan.

It looks like a red doughnut (mmm doughnut – Marmi’s hungry). A “curling house” is the name for the blue circle and white circle around the red “doughnut” ring, representing the target into which the curling stones slide. Marmi passes by a sports center and the strange circle catches his attention. He quickly sneaks into the hall where the children are playing curling. Not real curling on ice, of course. They are playing with a children’s curling set for schools. A “learn-to-curl” set.

Curling is an ancient sport that has been around since the Middle Ages. The Scots are said to have invented the team sport. The athletes move gracefully and with great concentration. Tactics are very important – curling is like chess on ice.

Curling arrived in Switzerland at the end of the 19th century and has been one of the top nations in curling ever since. The teams brush the ice in front of the stones (called “sweeping”) so that they glide and turn precisely and end up in just the right position to push out the opponent’s stones.

Marmi is very excited. He’s too small to slide the heavy stones, but perhaps he can be the captain and decide on tactics? He’s certainly clever enough.

There are more than 40 curling halls in Switzerland. The country needs them. The junior national team recently won gold in the World Championships. And the attraction of the curling house is powerful because the sport is suitable for people and for Marmi. There is also a version for people in wheelchairs. A stick is used to release the stone. But there is no sweeping.