Perth and Kinross councillors have unanimously agreed to grant the 2022 Winter Olympics GB Women’s Curling Team the Freedom of Perth.
Councillors were keen to honour the gold medal-winning team which includes Blair Atholl’s Eve Muirhead and Guildtown’s Mili Smith.
The women successfully brought home Team GB’s only gold of the Beijing Games.
Tabling the special motion at a Perth and Kinross Council meeting on April 27, Independent councillor Xander McDade praised the five women on their “significant achievement” – following their 10-3 victory over Japan in the gold medal match.
The Highland Perthshire councillor said: “It was a significant achievement and a real watch for everyone who stayed up to watch it.”
He called on the chamber to honour the team – with two of the women “essentially a product of Perth and Kinross and one we should be proud of” – by granting them the Freedom of Perth.
The motion was seconded by Strathmore Independent councillor Colin Stewart.
“Keen curler” and Lib Dem councillor Willie Robertson was “totally impressed” by the curlers’ Olympic display and praised the women on their “superhuman skills”. The Kinross-shire councillor said Perth and Kinross Council deserved a “pat on the back” too.
He added: “Over the years this council has supported curling both at Dewars Centre and even at Kinross where it has supported the modernisation of the rink and made it disabled friendly.
“Curling has a great future in Perth and Kinross and all the more so for the achievements by our curling team.”
The motion had claimed the team would be the first women to be given the honour since the Queen Mother – then Duchess of York – in 1935. This was also confirmed by Perth and Kinross Council prior to this week’s meeting.
However, councillors Andrew Parrott, John Duff and Murray Lyle were keen to point out women had received the accolade more recently when it was presented to organisations such as the Territorial Army and St Johnstone FC.
Councillors unanimously agreed to support the motion which will see Perthshire’s Eve Muirhead and Mili Smith and team-mates Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, and Hailey Duff awarded the Freedom of Perth.
Thanking councillors for their support, Cllr McDade said: “I think it’s a great opportunity to reflect on the successes of our young people and their achievements.
“They have inspired young people here to take up the sport and across the country and the wider world.”
