Curling is a game of skill and precision - but fun for beginners, right from the start!  The normal game is played between 2 teams of 4 players, but we can adapt this for other numbers.  Each player plays two stones in sequence, sliding the 20kg granite "rock" from one end of the ice rink to the other - about 45 metres in length, aiming at a target in the ice.  The rest of the team help the stone along by sweeping - and the "skip" shouts instructions, encouragement and abuse at the rest of the team as they go along!  The excitement and noise soon start to build up....

Curling started in Scotland and originally was played outdoors. Over the years the game has been refined and is now played mainly on indoor ice rinks. The major curling countries are Scotland, Canada, the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Germany, USA, China, Japan, Holland, Italy and France. Curling is in the Winter Olympics and is a major sport in Canada where over 1m people play the game.