Waht is the highest level of mixed curling competition outside of the world championships or Olympics ?
Improvements in ice making and changes in the rules to increase scoring and promote complex strategy have increased the already high popularity of the sport in Canada , and large television audiences watch annual curling telecasts , especially the Scotties Tournament of Hearts ( the national championship for women ) , the Tim Hortons Brier ( the national championship for men ) , and the women 's and men 's world championships .