Prairie Public Broadcasting

Sept. 11 will not deter curlers BISMARCK, ND (Prairie Public) - A local organizer for next year's World Curling Championship -- to be held in Bismarck -- says he doesn't think the September 11th attacks will discourage international teams from coming to the tournament.

Jon Mielke (milky) says there have already been a lot of calls from people looking for accomodations -- and he expects more, once the teams competing will be set. Mielke says he also talked to Canadian media about that situation.

"I said, especially for people in the Upper Midwest in the U. S. and the Prairie Provinces in Canada, maybe Bismarck becomes the safe alternative for those people who were thinking about going somewhere else, whether it was out to the Olympics or a winter vacation in Florida or California or someplace in Europe. So maybe we're a safe alternative for them."

Mielke says curling teams and fans will gladly make the trip -- and he says increased security after September 11th doesn't seem to be any deterrant.

"Interestingly enough, about two weeks after Sept. 11th, we had a call from a travel agent in Germany that wanted 80 hotel rooms. And maybe some of what we're experiencing isn't all that different from what people in Europe have been going through for travel arrangements a long time."

The event will be held at the Bismarck Civic Center next April. © Copyright 2012, Prairie Public