when was curling added to the olympics

Curling was first played at the Olympic Winter Games in 1924, but it became an official, regular medal sport in 1998 at the Nagano Winter Olympics.

Early Olympic appearance (1924)

Curling appeared on the program of the very first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924, in a men’s tournament won by Great Britain over Sweden and France. For many years this event was treated as a demonstration, but in 2006 the International Olympic Committee retroactively recognized it as an official medal event, confirming 1924 as curling’s Olympic debut.

Demonstration years

After Chamonix, curling was not consistently part of the Games and reappeared only as a demonstration sport. It was showcased at the Winter Olympics in 1932, 1988, and 1992, helping keep the sport visible internationally while it still lacked permanent medal status.

Official medal sport from 1998

On 21 July 1992, the IOC granted official medal status to men’s and women’s curling, with implementation no later than 2002 and an option for 1998. The Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics then became the first Games where curling returned as a full, regular medal sport for both men and women, and it has been on the Olympic program ever since.

Quick timeline

• 1924: First Olympic curling tournament at Chamonix (now recognized as medal event).

• 1932: Demonstration sport at Lake Placid.

• 1988 & 1992: Demonstration sport again at Calgary and Albertville.

• 1998: Becomes a full medal sport at the Nagano Winter Olympics, remaining on the program thereafter.

Do you mainly care about the 1998 “modern era” addition, or do you also want details on that 1924 retroactive recognition and how it changed the record books?