GIRSO and School of Kinesiology class partner with USA Curling

The Global Institute for Responsible Sport Organizations (GIRSO), directed by Lisa A. Kihl, PhD, and a School of Kinesiology graduate class (KIN 5461: Issues in the Sport Industry), partnered with USA Curling for a semester-long project. This project aimed to develop innovative racial diversity and inclusion strategies to improve the diversity of curling participants and create an inclusive environment. Developing free learn-to-curl programs targeting BIPOC individuals, partnering with organizations to introduce curling to youth populations, and organizing community events were some of the inclusion strategies students came up with. 

As a part of the class, students visited the Frogtown curling facility in St. Paul, Minnesota to learn how to curl, learn about the curling facility, and enhance their understanding of the curling community. Many students remarked on how it was a fun hands-on experience that informed their projects' strategies. 

"Participating in the curling event allowed me to understand the sport's rules better. Visiting the facility and getting to know the local community was beneficial for designing effective plans [for the semester's project]."

-KIN 5461 student