Beijing 2022 - ‘How do we get that retention?’ - David Murdoch ahead of Team GB reigniting love for Olympic curling

Team GB are about to begin their bid for Winter Olympic curling glory. Every four years the UK goes crazy for the sport. But while there is no doubt there is interest in Scotland, and that the status has grown over the past 20 years, Team GB's head coach believes far more needs to be done to increase retention.

Ad/> On Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony in Beijing, reigning mixed doubles world champions Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds will begin their tilt for glory when they take on Sweden in their opening group game. /> Beijing 2022Olympics Unlocked: How Curling works ahead of Beijing 202228/01/2022 AT 15:53 Across the UK, pop-up curling rinks have emerged around the Christmas period, but David Murdoch, the Sochi 2014 silver medallist who is now in charge of Britain’s elite set-up, says more investment is needed to capitalise on the profile it gets on a quadrennial basis. Beijing 2022 Olympic Games: Schedule, big names, key events and more It all started to kick-off when Rhona Martin’s rink won gold at Salt Lake City 2002, followed by medals won by Murdoch and Eve Muirhead’s teams in 2014.

The lack of ice rinks in the south of England especially is a problem for the head coach. /> “After every Olympics the interest grew, but it faded between Games,” Murdoch told Eurosport. “After Vancouver it probably explored the most and then in 2014, with social media, #lovecurling was a big hashtag.

The fact that myself and Eve got medals there, as well as the Paralympic guys, it created a huge amount of interest. “When we got back from Sochi, we couldn't believe just how many people had enjoyed it and had watched it, they were really gripped by it. That was fascinating for us because you're stuck in a bubble and out there