Curling’s first governing body: The Royal Caledonian Curling Club, formed in 1843

First world championships: 1959 (known then as the Scotch Cup)

Number of world championships won by Canada: 29

Olympic debut: 1924 Chamonix (debate whether it was an official or demonstration event)

Number of appearances as an Olympic demonstration event: 5 (1932, 1936, 1964, 1988, 1992)

Year curling returned as a full Olympic medal sport: 1998 Nagano

First Olympic champion: Great Britain

Years between Olympic gold medals for Great Britain: 78 ( 2002 women’s rink followed up the victory of the 1924 men’s team

Approximate year of curling’s introduction to Canada: 1760, when the game was brought over by Scottish immigrants

Number of member countries in the World Curling Federation: 46

Estimated percentage of the world’s curlers who live in Canada: 94

Percentage of Olympic curling gold medals won by Canada: 25

Canada’s only Olympic curling gold medallists: The team of Sandra Schmirler, Jan Betker, Joan McCusker and Marcia Gudereit at Nagano 1998

Statement on Canada’s curling dominance delivered by men’s team member George Karrys’ before the 1998 Olympic gold medal match against Switzerland: “Probably the 50th or 60th ranked club team in Canada could beat the best team in Europe.”

Correction made by 1998 Canadian skip Mike Harris: “It’s more like the top 40.”

Result of the match: Switzerland defeated Canada 9-3

Number of times Italy has entered a curling team in the Olympics: 0 (the host country of the 2006 Games will ice its first-ever team in Turin)