Finally Figured Out Why Olympics Curling Stones are So Expensive

The popularity of the sport of curling has increased since the Winter 2022 Olympics where 114 athletes participated in various curling competitions. Interestingly, the curling stones are customized for the Olympic games. As per reports, a single curling stone used in the Olympics game costs over $600. Hence, a set of 16 Olympics-certified stones cost $9600. On 15th October 2022, a YouTube video on the channel Insider Business disclosed why these stones were so costly. 

Highlighting the stones use since the 2006 Olympics, the video reveals the stones’ unique history. Created from 1851, stone makers have made certain that water doesn’t erode the stone by using granite. Talking about the Ailsa Craig island where these curling stones are created from granite, the video explains what is so special about the granite. Along with this, the video also provided a rare revelation of the only company allowed to harvest granite on the island. 

Lesser known facts about why the Olympic Curling stones are so costly 

The video stated that there are only ten people in the world who could make these unique Olympic-certified stones. These people assess whether the stone fulfills all the Olympics’ requirements. Further, the video commentator narrates, “Until its lease expires in 2050, Kays is the only company in the world with permission to harvest granite here.”  

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Afterwards, the video presenter related how two kinds of granite are used to make unique Olympic stones. The first is the blue hone granite from which the outer layer of the stone is made. This layer comes in contact with the ice. Another kind of granite, common green, is used to create the stone curler’s part that hits other stones. Continuing, the narrator stated, “The rock is densely constructed.” Thanks to how well its fine-grained crystals and the feldspar crystals interlock.”  According to the video narrator, this makes the curling stones more resilient. 

With these statements, the video presenter elaborated on why only curling stones from Ailsa Craig island were used in the Olympics. “While other rocks may crack or splinter, Ailsa Craig Granite stays intact amid cold temperature and collisions.” Further, the narrator explained how the granite rocks were cut in slabs. A Kay official then elucidated how a slab thickness of 145 millimeters was considered ideal. However, stone curlers are not the only expensive objects used for the Olympics. In reality, organizing the Olympics is a mammoth expense. Two countries spent a colossal amount for hosting the Olympics Games. 

Two global nations who spent extravagantly to host the Olympics 

Japan is one of the countries that reportedly spent more than $30 million to host the Winter Olympics in 1998. The 1998 Olympics were hosted in Nagano. This country has hosted the Olympic games four times now. 

The United Kingdom had spent $14.6 billion to host the 2012 London Olympics. The UK has hosted the Olympic games thrice till now. 

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The statements about the cost of Olympics curlers depict how the International Olympics Committee desires to have the best for its players. Do you think that such a huge amount should be spent on stone curlers? Share your views in the comments section.