This is the kind of drivel that make people angry and feel animosity towards England as they are only interested in themselves. I know this is not down to the people of England but the fat cat politicans and footpads in charge of the money. Quite clearly they are happy to use other peoples money and give little or no return on it. How funny would it be if we told the government to F off and keep all the money ( 9.3 billion per year  if I remember correctly ) from the North sea Oil and gas  . I'm pretty sure they would be pretty quick in giving us sweetners and then some so they can get their greedy thieving little hands on it again. Why are these people so out of touch with everything , the quicker they realise they can't do without us to have a GB the better it would be for all.

Aye, those of us trying to build curling rinks know fine well that the money has migrated south and anything left is getting ploughed into the commonwealth games.

That makes it all the more important that what money for facilities that curling does get is spent wisely - is that the case? I will let you draw your own conclusions.

This whole thing is just another of those "too large to fail" situations. Whether it is the Euro, individual countries, a new bridge, skyscraper, whatever -- and then there is the Olympics. We will never know how much the Olympics really cost, or where the money is taken from or who ends up with most of it in their pockets. The public side will look as pretty as they can make it, while anyone not directly on the gravy train can moan and groan all they like about the hidden robberies depriving them of the simple things in life they won't be able to afford.

All we can hope for in curling is that it gradually acquires the same status in public well being as swimming pools, for which even Scotland can still find money. But all the while the image of curling is based on medals and elite funding towards medals, there will not be money for new rinks in rural areas. Cities have larger budgets and more important people on the gravy train, so they stand a better chance, and so will attract the elite. The larger systems cannot be allowed to fail, so they proceed no matter the cost.

Of course, there is the Lottery, as long as you win enough and care enough about curling!