Winter Paralympics rocked just hours before event as investigation immediately launched

World Curling have confirmed that two stones were stolen from the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium before the preliminary rounds of the Winter Paralympics mixed doubles wheelchair competition began on Wednesday. Spare stones from the set were instead used, brought up to the same specifications as the remaining rocks.

A World Curling spokesperson told the Press Association: "Unfortunately, there has been a situation where two stones were stolen from the venue. The local authorities are currently investigating." The stolen stones were previously used during the Olympic mixed doubles tournament, in which Team GB came fourth after Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds lost the bronze medal game to Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini of Italy.

Jason Kean and Joanna Butterfield are representing ParalympicsGB in the inaugural mixed doubles wheelchair competition and lost their first round-robin match 10-7 to Estonia. China lead the way after session one, after winning 10-3 against Japan, while Italy edged a close one 7-5 with South Korea and the United States won 11-6 over Latvia.

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