STATEMENT FROM USA CURLING ATHLETES’ ADVISORY COUNCIL
To the Curling Community:
USA Curling Athletes’ Advisory Council’s (AAC) top priorities are athlete’s rights, including safety, health, and wellness. We are elected by our peers to represent the voice of the athletes as 33% of USA Curling’s committees and Board of Directors.
Each member of the current AAC roster is deeply involved in advocating for athlete priorities, both with leadership and with the athletes we represent. Athletes on the Council attend all Board and Committee meetings and represent a wide range of experience, abilities, ages, and diversity of thought across both able-bodied and para disciplines.
On Monday, October 3rd, Sally Q. Yates released a report regarding allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women’s professional soccer. This announcement impacts our curling world as USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush was identified in the report as former National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) commissioner from 2015–2017. As a result, USA Curling’s Board of Directors immediately initiated an investigation to review the facts.
On Thursday, October 13th, USA Curling’s Board of Directors released a statement based on its analysis of the investigation, refraining from releasing specifics to avoid interfering with the ongoing NWSL Players Association’s (NWSLPA) investigation. As athletes, we respect this decision, and we support a complete investigation for the safety of NWSL athletes; we trust in the process of these investigations and support the full release of the facts as soon as it is possible to ensure athlete safety.
Curling is a sport grown out of community. As athletes ourselves, who grew up in local curling clubs, we understand - and take seriously - the Spirit of Curling. We are at the table, every single day, advocating to make curling a better and safer place for athletes to compete, commune, and thrive. As your representatives, we will always make our voices heard and stay involved in the process - our Athlete Directors have met daily with the board to commission, review and act upon their investigation, and work will continue in order to evaluate our position as things develop.
Our work in support of you will never be done. We encourage athletes of all abilities to reach out with any questions or concerns at any time, and we continue to look for ways to bring as many of your voices and experiences to light as we can.
Signed,
Steven Birklid, AAC Vice Chair
Colin Hufman, USOPC AAC Representative
Christine McMakin
Oyuna Uranchimeg
Aileen Geving
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People, and United Airlines.