I’ve been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Team GB as the UK team is called hasn’t been that successful in recent winter olympics, we don’t really have the climate or the mountains for many of the sports but there are a few sports we excel in and this year, to my delight we won both a gold and a silver medal in Curling. The women’s team took the gold and the men the silver. You may be thinking so what, but curling is actually a Scottish sport and both the men's and women’s teams are made up of players who were born or live in Scotland and who actually train here too at some of our excellent curling rinks across the country. If you are wondering what curling is, it’s a bit like bowling but on ice, the aim is to slide curling stones down the ice towards a target. Each team has 4 players and has the chance to throw 8 stones. Points are awarded for stones closest to the target. As well as throwing the stone, players can sweep in front of a stone as it travels to influence the direction and distance.  So a bit about the history, the world’s oldest curling stone can be seen at the town of Stirling’s Smith Art Gallery and museum and dates from 1511 so we know curling has been in existence in Scotland since the 16th century. Curling was first played outdoors on frozen rivers and ponds and in those days there was plenty of ice around to play on during the winter it’s not like that today. By 1800 it was the most popular sport in Scotland and as Scots emigrated around the world, curling was taken with them. Scots introduced curling to Canada around 1807 and to the United States in 1830. These days it’s played all over the world and it became an Olympic sport in 1998 and there are now 3 different events, the women’s, the mens and mixed doubles. Most curling stones are made from granite and they weigh around 20kg. The granite either comes from Ailsa Craig, a rocky island off the coast of Ayrshire in Scotland or the Trefor granite quarry in Wales. Kays of Scotland, a curling stone manufacturer makes all the stones from Ailsa Craig granite and supply all the curling stones you see in play at the Olympics. Around 30 people are employed by Kays and the stones are sent out to curling clubs all over the world. Another vital piece of equipment is the curling brush, the original brushes were similar to household brushes, the kind used in your kitchen but these days they are often made from fibreglass to make them lighter to hold with hog hair or horse hair for the brush. A really nice thing about curling is what’s called the spirit of curling or good sportsmanship. Players must never cheer if the other team makes mistakes and you are not supposed to celebrate your own good shots apart from a modest thumbs up or a nod.  If a team sees that they have no chance of winning then they can concede the game and accept defeat.  This is not seen as quitting, it’s seen as good etiquette and an honourable act. It goes without saying that players should shake hands at the beginning and at the end of the match too and wish eachother good curling. In recent times, curling rinks have been offering various have a go curling events for people who have never played and would like to try. I had the chance to try curling a few years ago and I really enjoyed it.  I think it’s a sport that anyone can get involved in and it’s even accessible for wheelchair users.  In addition to various curling rinks around the country Scotland even has a curling hotel,v the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer the only one in the world, where you can play a game of curling then relax in the restaurant overlooking the rink. Despite having such a strong association with curling, this is only the 2nd time we’ve won the Gold medal at the Olympics.  The first time was in 2002 when it was again the women’s team who surprised everyone by taking gold