Marc Kennedy alleges ‘premeditated’ camera sting in Olympic curling row

Kennedy says Olympic hog line cameras were strategically placed to expose his team during the double-touch incident

Canadian curling star Marc Kennedy has claimed he and his team were targeted by a “premeditated” effort to catch them cheating after they were filmed appearing to “double-touch” a stone at the Olympics.

The incident, which involved a potential infraction at the hog line, was captured on camera, prompting scrutiny of the Canadian side. Kennedy, however, suggested the footage was no coincidence.

“They have come up with a plan here at the Olympics, as far as I know, to catch teams in the act at the hog line,” Kennedy said. “This was planned… it was kind of evident that something was going on, and they were trying to catch us in an act.”

Kennedy and coach Paul Webster accused Sweden of helping orchestrate the camera placement in an effort to expose alleged rule-breaking.

“I know we’re not the only team that they’ve done that to. So I think this was, I don’t know what the word is for that, but like a premeditated plan to try to catch us,” Kennedy added.

Sweden strongly rejected the implication. Swedish skip Niklas Edin responded by saying concerns about Canadian conduct have existed for years.

“We’ve been saying this for maybe seven, eight years or something. The media crew decided to place the camera on the hog line to see what was happening,” Edin said.

The controversy has added tension to an already heated Olympic curling competition, with both sides standing firm on their versions of events.