The 2016 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Swift Current has officially begun.

Twelve different teams will play their first game of the Championship today, all gunning for the gold medal.

For Team Canada's Chelsea Carey, her run began at 2:00pm Saturday against Lene Nielsen and Denmark.

The contest marks Carey's first game at the World's, something she has been looking forward to for a long time.

"It's been my dream since I was seven years old, I don't know how to phrase it any better than that. My first dream was to represent my province and I didn't get to achieve that until I was 29 and now to turn around just two years later and get to wear the maple leaf, which was always the ultimate dream, is beyond words. I don't think it has fully sunk in but every day I wake up and it hits me a little bit more that it is true," she said.

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Chelsea Carey leading Team Canada during the opening ceremonies.

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With Canada having gone without gold at the World Women's since 2008, Carey says she understands expectations from the hometown crowd are high.

"Curling in Canada is no different than hockey. We have had some droughts on the hockey side in the Junior's, the World Championships and the Olympics yet everyone still expected Canada to win gold, that expectation never went away despite the fact the parity is there. I definitely think that is the level of expectation but certainly the world has come on very strong, and you see that by the bit of a drought we have had from winning gold medals. We normally medal and do well, but the lack of winning the past few years would certainly display that," she added.

Rounding out the opening draw will be the USA against Switzerland, Japan battling Finland and Russia taking on Italy.

Team Canada has the evening off before battling Switzerland Sunday morning.

 

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Fans from all across the world have traveled to Speedy Creek to take in the action. Canadian fans eager to let the games begin!

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Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer with wife Kelly and kids. Mrs. Schafer competed in the 2010 Championship for Team Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer addressed the crowd during opening ceremonies.

**UPDATE**: Carey and Team Canada rallied in Draw 1 of the World Women's Curling Championship to defeat Lene Nielsen of Denmark 8-7.

The Danes lead 4-2 after two with Canada gaining the lead later in the ninth end.

Team Canada returns to the ice Sunday to take on Switzerland, the reigning world champion.

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