# Becoming an Olympian by Way of the (New) Equadoran Curling Team **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665 "2006-02-15T19:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/1 "2006-02-15T19:00:05Z")
Let’s say I really, really want to be an Olympian, but certain issues–lack of talent, discipline, mental toughness and age–appear to stand in my way. Would the International Olympic Committee frown on my approaching a foreign government, say Equador or Congo, and starting a curling team? (I have never touched a curling stone, or even a curling iron.) IIRC, the Olympics has a lower entrance bar for competitors from underrepresented countries. If the Jamiacan bobseld team is any indication, an Equadoran or Congoese curling team seems to fit the bill quite nicely. Also: What preliminary hurdles must I clear before making the Equadoran Olympic team? Is it expensive? Need I get dual citizenships? [The potential re: commercial endorsements are amazing. Might even get a spot of Letterman’s show.] P.S. Do not steal my idea. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/2 "2006-02-15T19:07:23Z")
Well, Ecuador has mountains, so they might be familiar with ice and winter sports (depending on how high the mountains are), so that might not be a cakewalk. Now, a Congolese curling team… that might have some potential. But first you have to decide: which Congo? Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), or the one across the river? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/3 "2006-02-15T19:13:09Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > P.S. Do not steal my idea. Didn’t the Venezuelan luge guy already steal your idea, or did you steal it from him? Actually I was kind of bummed when I saw him, 'cos I’d always thought of doing the same thing (exactly the same thing; the luge), but for Mexico – I almost have the living time I need, and a Mexican spouse can’t hurt, and the nationalize soccer players just for the heck of it all the time. I’ve seen Americans on West German figure skating teams, but my use of “West” ought to imply that this was more than a couple of Olympics ago. Anyway, maybe Mexico’s position is better: they can say that they didn’t finish last in any of the events at all, but the Venezuelans will always be known as the big losers in the luge. Oh, all of my information is at least several hours old; for all I know Venuzuela took the Gold. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/4 "2006-02-15T19:24:51Z")
Luge is waaaay too dangerous. The worst accident resulting from curling might be a broken nail. I’m pretty tough. I can handle a broken nail. Re: Congolese curling team. I’m not picky. Dictatorship or democracy. My goal is to become an Olympian, not an ethicist. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/5 "2006-02-15T19:35:24Z")
Egad. When I saw the title I thought it said _Equestrian_ Curling Team! ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/6 "2006-02-15T19:35:27Z")
If I can’t steal your idea, can I volunteer to be on your team? ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/7 "2006-02-15T21:31:56Z")
> [@Alan Smithee](#): > > If I can’t steal your idea, can I volunteer to be on your team? Is “Alan Smithee” a pseudonym for “Jessica Alba”? C’mon folks, I need some answers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/8 "2006-02-15T21:57:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, Ecuador has mountains, so they might be familiar with ice and winter sports (depending on how high the mountains are), so that might not be a cakewalk. According to an Ecuadoran classmate of mine, there is indeed ice and snow up in the mountains. I don’t think they have curling, though. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/9 "2006-02-15T22:07:03Z")
Isn’t it up to each country’s Olympic Committee? A few well-placed bribes and you’re good to go. I’d like to volunteer to be the Head Stone Heater Starter. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/10 "2006-02-15T22:12:05Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Would the International Olympic Committee frown on my approaching a foreign government, say Equador or Congo, and starting a curling team? Why go all the way to South America, when you can just [move to D.C.](http://www.dcolympicteam.org/)? > [@](#): > > BUT GUAM’S GOT A TEAM! If the nation’s capital is not a U.S. state, why can’t it be a separate sporting territory? A team of novice curlers formed the District of Columbia Olympic Committee to make the point. Right now, they have to practice in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/11 "2006-02-15T22:15:19Z")
The International Olympic Committee cracked down on this a couple of Olympiads ago, after Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards and the Jamaican bobsledders were threatening to make a joke out of the competition. I don’t have time to look up the details right now, but I think it’s up to each sport’s federation to set standards for individuals to qualify in their sport. For team tournament sports like hockey and curling, keep in mind that the Olympics in Turin are the _finals_–just like the World Cup this summer will be the soccer _finals_. You have to beat other teams to get that far. Ecuadoran curling ain’t gonna cut it. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/12 "2006-02-15T22:22:44Z")
[Here’s](http://www.worldcurlingfederation.org/Curlhome/federation/Nations.asp) a list of all the curling federations. These are real ones too. Like Freddy said, not all of them are at the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/13 "2006-02-16T01:15:33Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent](#): > > Also: What preliminary hurdles must I clear before making the Equadoran Olympic team? Well, they would probably consider it a nice gesture if you learned how to spell “Ecuador”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/14 "2006-02-16T03:02:24Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Well, they would probably consider it a nice gesture if you learned how to spell “Ecuador”. 😃 Whoops, forgot to mention: I’m also pushing for global spelling reform on the Ecuador-naming front. Early indications are encouraging. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sxyzzx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sxyzzx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sxyzzx)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/15 "2006-02-16T03:48:19Z")
The blog [DFL](http://www.mcwetboy.net/dfl/) has been discussing the preliminary qualification processes for Olympic events (in addition to their main purpose, highlighting the last-place finisher in each event). ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/16 "2006-02-16T03:48:31Z")
There are only 10 nations that compete in the Olympic curling tournament. One is the host team. The other nine are chosen by how well you did in the three world curling championships in the years between the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/17 "2006-02-16T06:39:01Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > There are only 10 nations that compete in the Olympic curling tournament. One is the host team. The other nine are chosen by how well you did in the three world curling championships in the years between the Olympics. Thanks for killing the Olympic spirit, Bob. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/18 "2006-02-16T07:16:36Z")
Buzzkill Bob strikes again. ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/19 "2006-02-16T13:54:06Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Luge is waaaay too dangerous. The worst accident resulting from curling might be a broken nail. I’m pretty tough. I can handle a broken nail. > > Re: Congolese curling team. I’m not picky. Dictatorship or democracy. My goal is to become an Olympian, not an ethicist. 😉 You know it’s a sport played on ice, right? And that people fall down? I can still feel the piece of my knuckle that’s no longer attached to my knuckle from the finger I broke while curling, and that’s not even the most painful curling injury I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665/20 "2006-02-16T15:03:17Z")
> [@jacquilynne](#): > > … and that’s not even the most painful curling injury I’m aware of. OK, I have to ask: what is that one??? An athletic female friend of mine from Germany wrenched her leg pretty badly playing badminton at a highly competitive level. Completely plausible, but doesn’t sound right to those of us who think of it as a beach passtime. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-an-olympian-by-way-of-the-new-equadoran-curling-team/344665.md?page=2)