BBC issues apology after curling foul language incident
The BBC issued an apology to viewers on Saturday after a Canadian curler’s expletive was broadcast during the women’s curling coverage at the Winter Olympics, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred during the preliminary round clash between Team GB and Canada, with the reigning world champions under pressure from the British side. A frustrated Canadian player’s profanity was inadvertently captured by microphones following a costly error on the ice.
Despite being heavy favourites heading into the contest, Canada ultimately fell to a 7-6 defeat as Team GB pulled off a significant upset against the world champions. Great Britain held a commanding position with just two stones remaining in the opening end, putting significant pressure on their opponents, who needed precision with their delivery but instead succeeded only in knocking their own best-placed stone out of contention.
This early blunder affected the Canadian competitors, with one player quietly uttering, “F*** guys,” within range of the broadcast microphones. BBC commentator Steve Cram swiftly addressed the slip, stating, “Oh dear, again, really sorry if you heard a frustrating expletive let’s just put it that way.”
The victory signified a remarkable turnaround for the British team following disappointments from the previous day’s competition. On Friday, the BBC had also been forced to apologise for similar language issues, which saw Team GB players’ expletives picked up during their match against South Korea.
This marked the second consecutive day that broadcasters had to address foul language during the curling coverage. The Canadian curling contingent has been involved in multiple instances of X-rated language at this year’s Games, with both their men’s and women’s teams implicated in separate incidents.
In a related note, the Canadian men’s team became embroiled in a heated confrontation during their fixture against Sweden, sparked by allegations of cheating. Swedish captain Niklas Edin accused the Canadians of ‘double-touching’ their stone, claiming they had made contact with it after releasing. Canadian third Marc Kennedy responded angrily to the suggestion, stating, “I haven’t done it once. F*** off.” Following the game, Kennedy expressed defiance about his outburst, declaring, “He’s still accusing us of cheating, and I didn’t like it. So I told him where to stick it because we’re the wrong team to do that to.”
As the competition progresses, the tension within the sport remains palpable, illustrating how quickly stakes can escalate in the heat of Olympic action. These Games, while showcasing athletic skill and poise, are also revealing the raw emotions that lie underneath the surface.
