Curling scoring, explained: A guide to understanding the rules, terms and Olympic points system originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Who gets the hammer could play a big impact for the end of the match.

Curling is a team sport at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics for women, men, mixed doubles, and mixed wheelchair teams.

Scoring an End: Matches are split into rounds termed ends, usually eight or 10 per game. After all 16 stones (eight per side) have been delivered, the team whose stone sits nearest the button earns one point for each stone positioned closer to the centre than their rivals' closest stone.

Curling: GB's men need Italy (v Switzerland) or Norway (v Canada) to lose to reach semi-finals (08:05 GMT) GB women need to beat Italy and hope other results go their way (13:05) Ski mountaineering: France's Emily Harrop - whose parents are British but who was born and bred in French Alps - is favourite (sprint finals from 12:55 GMT) Freestyle skiing: Men's halfpipe qualifiers postponed until tomorrow;

While curling is considered to be a calm and respectful sport, it has been making headlines at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Canada beat Norway 5-4 in Thursday night's men's curling semifinals after losing to the Norwegians earlier in the day. The Canadians' opponent in Saturday's gold medal game will be Britain, which stunned Switzerland 8-5.