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World curling championships returning to Victoria

Second time the championships have come to Capital City

Eight years ago the World Men’s Curling Championships was the first act of any kind to grace the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Now get ready for act two.

On Tuesday, the World Curling Federation and the Canadian Curling Association announced Victoria will again host the World Men’s Championships from March 30 to April 7, 2013.

The idea to bring it back was Keith Dagg’s. He chaired the 2005 event and is co-chairing the 2013 host committee with Chris Atchison.

“(In 2005) we literally finished the building the night before we needed it,” Dagg said.

“But the ice was great and we sold out 17 of the 22 draws – total sellouts – and that’s one of the reasons it’s coming back here.”

A third-party report done later in 2005 priced the impact of the World Men’s Championships at $20.4 million to Victoria.

“It should generate at least that,” Dagg said of the 2013 event.

“In 2005 there wasn’t much television coverage, just some from CBC, but this time TSN will be broadcasting live, worldwide for eight straight days, to all 12 countries.”

The greatest impact comes from curling fans visiting from up-Island, Western Canada and the U.S.

But Rob Gialloreto, president and CEO of Tourism Victoria, said “it’s hard to predict if it will replicate the ($20 million) impact. We’re hopeful that it will be.”

Tickets for the 2013 World Men’s championships will likely go on sale in March.