Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2028, Curling Luxembourg is a small but vibrant organization, boasting around 50 members. The organization’s greatest strength lies not in its size but in its diversity, with members from a wide array of nationalities and cultures. 

Over the years, Curling Luxembourg has focused on improving both individual and team performance, participating in numerous inter-regional, European, and global championships. However, with some long-time members leaving Luxembourg or transitioning to a more recreational level of play, the organization is now actively focusing on growth. This involves a multi-faceted approach to promote curling, including both the traditional on-ice game and modern alternatives like floor, street, and table curling. The organization plans to actively engage with schools, universities, youth associations, municipal councils, and even senior clubs to introduce the sport to a new generation of enthusiasts.

Around 10 years ago, when World Curling and Rock Solid Productions started offering iceless curling equipment, the interest in floor curling began in Luxembourg. The sport’s popularity has steadily grown since, with increasing demand for it at both indoor and outdoor events, corporate functions, and as a training tool for secondary school teachers. This has allowed teachers to incorporate curling into their educational programs, further expanding the sport’s reach across the country.

Community Engagement

Curling Luxembourg has had the pleasure of introducing curling to a wide variety of community groups over the years, including educational institutions, corporate and public spaces, and a rehabilitation centre. 

At St. George’s School, an English school in Luxembourg, 250 primary section students aged 6 to 12, and a group of 30 secondary level students, were introduced to floor curling in their school. Another 310 pupils were reached through a primary school Action Week and Summer Party in Strassen. As well, an ongoing collaboration with IFEN (Professional Training Institute of the Luxembourg Ministry of Education) trains an average of 15 teachers per group, enabling them to incorporate curling into their programs. At the university level, an ongoing collaboration with LUNEX, Luxembourg’s sports university, reaches about 15 students and professors per session in physical and management-related academic studies programs.

Outside of educational institutions, Curling Luxembourg has worked with Luxembourg City’s Demonstration Ice Sports event and the Inclusive Gathering Day Without Borders, bringing the sport to a wider public audience, and has an ongoing collaboration with the consulting group Deloitte & Touche. Additionally, through the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee (LPC), they have a special partnership with Rehazenter, Luxembourg’s main rehabilitation centre, providing an annual inclusive sports demonstration, running weekly floor curling sessions for participants of all abilities, plus occasional Floor Curling Afternoons for hospitalized and ambulatory patients.

Participants’ responses have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. They are often surprised by how exciting and accessible curling can be. People quickly connect with one another, uniting to develop game strategies in a very short amount of time. Nuyt Visscher, active wheelchair curler and Curling Luxembourg Project Manager and Floor Curling Monitor for Mixed Ability Floor Curling, stated, “We’ve seen a wide range of ages, from 6 to 85, all enjoying the sport and getting good exercise. The older participants, in particular, have a great time and often express their desire to come back and play again.” 

When it comes to the best strategy for generating interest and growing awareness about floor curling in Luxembourg, Nuyt has found that proactivity and a direct approach work best. Websites, publicity channels, and flyer distribution are complementary, but showing what curling looks like and explaining it step by step is key.

The Impact of Floor Curling

“Floor Curling has strengthened the visibility of curling,” said Nuyt, “The first impression during sports at school, a mixed cultural event, or an invite on the rink, leaves a positive impression, and then you make them hungry for more.” Nuyt also noted that floor curling can be a good preparation for ice curling and, in some cases, the other way around, too. If the ice version is not the right fit for a person or it’s too time-consuming, floor curling is a great alternative.

One success story that stood out to Nuyt was during Action Week at a primary school. A girl with partial paralysis and a boy with paraplegia were positioned in their wheelchairs outside the playing area, and Nuyt told the teachers to get them actively involved, along with his assistance. In no time, the classmates were almost fighting to help out, truly capturing a moment of the impact floor curling can have on a group within an inclusive space.

The Future of Floor Curling in Luxembourg

An important next step for Curling Luxembourg is the upcoming collaboration with a large intermunicipal senior club, which covers five midsize municipalities with over 15,000 inhabitants, along with three other local senior clubs. This initiative, set to begin in early October 2025 with a weekly 2-hour session in the intermunicipal Senior Club Uelzechtdall, is open to individuals aged 50 and above but also welcomes younger participants. This expansion could potentially pave the way for a regional or even national floor curling competition. Nuyt added, “Personally, I would love to coach a smaller group of children with disabilities, primary school level (approximately 8 to 12 years of age), which would be done in close collaboration with qualified therapists.”

With the success of floor curling in Luxembourg, the sport has emerged as a powerful tool for Curling Luxembourg, significantly boosting the sport’s visibility and accessibility. By actively engaging with schools, businesses, universities, rehabilitation centers, and senior clubs, the organization has successfully introduced curling to a wide and diverse audience. This proactive approach, which prioritizes direct demonstration over passive promotion, has generated enthusiasm across all age groups and abilities. The positive reception to floor curling not only serves as a gateway to the traditional ice version but also stands as a valuable alternative on its own, and the commitment to inclusivity and strategic community engagement ensures a vibrant and sustainable future for curling in Luxembourg.