E5: Sweeping Summit

This interview-style podcast delves into the "Broomgate" scandal that rocked the world of competitive curling in 2015. The podcast traces the escalating tensions surrounding performance-enhancing brooms, culminating in a "sweeping summit" where experts and manufacturers collaborated to establish a universal broom fabric. The summit involved rigorous testing, including the use of a (ultimately unsuccessful) rock-throwing robot, and ultimately led to the standardization of Nylon Oxford 420B fabric for competitive curling brooms. This resulted in a more level playing field and resolved the controversy, demonstrating how a collaborative approach can resolve disputes in professional sports. The podcast concludes by highlighting the enduring "spirit of curling" despite the intense competition.