Omaha has been selected as the site for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling. It is the second consecutive time that the Baxter Arena will host curling’s Olympic Trials, following a very successful trials event in November 2017.
The event will once again be hosted by the Omaha Sports Commission (OSC), in partnership with the Aksarben Curling Club.
“Omaha has proven once again to be an ideal host city for world class events. The relationships and trust we have built with USOPC national governing bodies such as USA Curling have been key to being selected as the host city for trials events,” said Josh Todd, executive director of the Omaha Sports Commission. “The 2022 U.S. Olympic Trials for Curling provides Omaha another chance to demonstrate our amazing community support through sport development, sponsorships and ticket sales. We look forward to a great event as USA Curling teams are selected to compete in the Olympic Games Beijing 2022.”
The trials will take place Nov. 12-21, 2021, at the 7,800-seat Baxter Arena, which hosted the 2018 trials as well as the fourth season of Curling Night in America in 2017. The OSC also hosted the Curling World Cup in 2018 at nearby Ralston Arena.
“UNO Athletics and Baxter Arena are extremely happy to partner with the Omaha Sports Commission and USA Curling to once again host this event,” said Mike Kemp, UNO’s Senior Associate Athletic Director and the general manager of Baxter Arena. “The success of the 2018 Olympic Trials for Curling was evident by the way that the Omaha fans supported the trials through their attendance, and the atmosphere that they created. We strive to create a great atmosphere so that our athletes are well prepared for the Games in 2022.”
The 2022 Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 4-20, 2022, in Beijing, China. Countries can begin earning 2022 Olympic qualification points at the 2020 World Women’s and World Men’s championship events
“The return of trials to Omaha is exciting both for competitors and the great fans that come out to support curling,” said John Shuster, 2018 Olympic gold medalist. “Between the 2018 Olympic Trials and the World Cup, curlers really enjoyed their time there, and I think the people of Omaha are really starting to get more into curling. It’s a really good fit.”
About the Omaha Sports Commission: Created in 2003, the Omaha Sports Commission is a not-for-profit entity dedicated to Enriching Omaha Through Sport and making Omaha one of the premier sports communities in the United States. The OSC works closely with area businesses and community leaders to recruit, host and promote amateur sporting events.
About the USOPC: Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. The USOPC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America’s athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.