British Curling’s growing standing within the sports community has been further underlined by the announcement that three-time Paralympian Gregor Ewan and fellow wheelchair curler Meggan Dawson-Farrell have been chosen to be the British team’s flag-bearers at the Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. 
Their selection follows those of Eve Muirhead and Bruce Mouat as Team GB’s flag carriers for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at last month’s Winter Olympics and ParalympicsGB’s wheelchair curlers are also looking to replicate the magic produced by their British Curling colleagues when they take to the ice at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing as competition get underway (5 March-12 March).
The venue, which has been transformed and renamed ‘The Ice Cube’ for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, has been a happy hunting ground for Great Britain with curlers claiming gold and silver medals just over a week ago and wheelchair team skip Hugh Nibloe, believes those achievements have given a welcome boost to his team who train alongside the Olympic medallists at the National Curling Academy in Stirling.
“We are incredibly proud of our Olympians and we know how hard they worked for those medals in what has been a very unusual build up to our campaigns,” he said.
“They battled hard in their final matches and being back home at the time we know how much impact their success had on everyone in the UK. 
“We will take a lot of inspiration from their medal winning performances as well as a lot of confidence from training alongside them on the British Curling programme.
“We also hope to make everyone back home proud and lift the spirits of the nation and we want them to know we will be no less determined in our efforts.
“I am now just really looking forward to starting my second Paralympic campaign and my first as a skip and I very much hope I do as good a job as Bruce (Mouat) and Eve (Muirhead) did with their teams.”
Nibloe and flag bearers Ewan and Dawson-Farrell are joined by two more Paralympic debutants, David Melrose and alternate Gary Smith, who received a late call up to the team just last month.
“We have a great mix within our team who now feel ready for the challenge ahead and we will all pull together for the next 10 days to ensure we all give our very best in the Ice Cube and hopefully make more magic happen for ParalympicsGB,” he said. 
Dawson-Farrell, whose last experience of a major multi-sport Games was at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 when she took to the track in the 1500m, is relishing this opportunity.
“To be chosen as one of the flag bearers is an incredible experience to have and it is a big responsibility and I cannot wait to march out with Gregor (Ewan) for ParalympicsGB in front of the rest of the world,” she said.
“Having seen much of the Olympic action on the TV, to now be here getting ready to compete in the Ice Cube really is a huge privilege and one that I will cherish forever. 
“We got the chance to experience playing at this venue at the World Championships in October last year which is helping us feel more comfortable in this environment and with all the adrenalin and excitement of being at my first Games, I now cannot wait to get on ice and get the competition underway.
“This is a lifelong dream being realised and it has been a hard build up, but I now hope our focus and determination to do well for our team and our country will reap rewards for everyone and that the next week or so showcases how we have all triumphed over adversity and I hope we inspire the next generation of Paralympians.”
Hosts China are the defending champions in what is now a field of 11 teams with ParalympicsGB also set to face Canada, Estonia, Korea, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and United States, as a result of Russian competitors no longer being involved in the event.
“We fully support the decision that has now been taken by the International Paralympic Committee, and endorse the position stated by our partners at the BPA, BOA and World Curling Federation,” said British Curling’s Executive Performance Director Nigel Holl.
“We all stand united with the people, athletes and Olympic and Paralympic family of the Ukraine.”
ParalympicsGB open their campaign against Paralympic bronze medallists Norway followed by the USA on the first day of action at the Ice Cube.
Images: ParalympicsGB / PPA Graeme Hart.
