BBC co-commentator Steve Cram has urged Winter Olympic officials to address the Canadian curling team’s use of inappropriate language following their 9-5 victory over Team GB.
Brad Jacobs’ team has been involved in controversy during the events in Milan and Cortina. The BBC had to issue an apology after Canada’s Marc Kennedy engaged in a heated exchange with Swedish player Oskar Eriksson earlier in the tournament.
Kennedy also faced allegations of improper stone handling during Canada’s win against Sweden, leading World Curling to issue a statement clarifying the rules. Despite this, the BBC commentary team once again criticized the Canadians for their language.
During a break in Tuesday’s match, the Canadians were caught using profanity within earshot of TV cameras, prompting disapproval from Cram and co-commentator Logan Gray.
Cram, known for his commentary in athletics, emphasized the need for officials to address the Canadians’ behavior, with Gray commenting on their language.
At that juncture, Canada had taken a 3-1 lead after the third end, with Jacobs’ team making a crucial move to secure a point against Mouat’s team.
Despite not being broadcasted, Mouat’s team might now be expressing frustration. Having led Team GB to a silver medal in the 2022 Games, their defeat to Canada puts them in a challenging position to reach the semi-finals.
After suffering an 8-6 loss against Norway in their previous round-robin match, Team GB’s matches against Canada and the USA hold significant importance, with a win necessary to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Even a victory against the Americans may not suffice for Team GB to advance to the last four, necessitating reliance on favorable outcomes from other matches for a chance to compete in the semi-finals later this week.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, taking place from February 6-22, offer fans over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video, with the £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription granting access to TNT Sports 2 for continuous Olympic coverage.