One of curling's leading commentators has registered alarm at Scotland's performance at the men's World Curling Championships in Canada and warned of dire implications for future Olympic involvement if improvements are not made to training facilities and the domestic competitive structure.
Little more than a year after British teams picked up medals in Sochi in the men's, women's and Paralympic events, five defeats in their first five matches has effectively ruled Ewan MacDonald's rink out of play-off contention in Halifax.
"The big worry is that we don't make the next Olympics," said regular Eurosport commentator Logan Gray.
"I just looked at it this morning because I was hoping there are no Olympic qualifying points up for grabs this year at the Worlds because we're not going to get any and to be honest it would be a bit of a failing for Scotland if we ended up in the Olympic qualification event.
"If Scotland ended up in that situation that's a scary, scary situation to be in because if we don't make the Olympics then funding is slashed."
Under the current system there is a year's grace with qualifying points only gained at the two World Championships immediately ahead of the next Winter Olympics, but Gray believes that Team MacDonald's problems have highlighted the need for a new national performance centre to be established.
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