Network connection abroad
Mark Britt – Penticton Herald/Local Journalism Initiative – February 15, 2023 / 10:52 am | Story: 411627
Photo: Mark Britt, Penticton Herald/Local Journalism Initiative
High in the mountains of Portugal there is a small sheet of ice that has a very strong Canadian connection. It's also the only place in the country where you can curl.
The Portuguese Winter Sports Federation, led by a group of Canadians, is working to change that. To that end, the Penticton Curling Club hosted a training camp and gave members an opportunity to scout some Okanagan talent for that country's women's national team to promote the sport.
Union member April Galisekero of Nanaimo was among those who came to Penticton for the camp.
“Portugal has no ice at all, no ice at all, so there is nowhere to play,” said Galisequero, who married into a Portuguese family. “There are no really popular winter sports, so it's an uphill battle. We hope to get a dedicated arena, but that's a few years away.”
Besides finding members for the Portuguese team that will compete in April at the European Championships in Scotland (Section C), the goal of the camp was to encourage the sport among the Portuguese Okanagan community.
“These people should learn to play because curling is the best sport in the world,” Galisekiro said with a smile. “Some of these people might think this is football, but we know it's really curling.”
With two program members from Penticton, the decision to hold the camp here was an easy one for organizers.
“Coming here was a beautiful and perfect choice, the ice is beautiful, the curling club is great, the way the community has embraced us is beautiful,” she added.
Irene Giudice and Isabel Smith are two Penticton women who are part of the Portuguese National Program.
Giudice, whose parents were born in Portugal and visits her often, said: “The federation contacted me and I had a Zoom meeting with the coaches in Portugal and they convinced me to try.” “I would love to represent them, it would be an honor.”
