This will be the 14th time that the World Curling Federation (WCF) has staged its showpiece women's event in Canada and the second time that Swift Current has been the venue following 2010 when Germany beat Scotland in the final. 

Switzerland will be seeking to become the first team in 30 years to win three successive titles since Canada did so in 1986.

They have beaten the Canadians in each of the last two finals and will be led by 2014 skip, Binia Feltscher.

Canada will be represented by an experienced Alberta team, although Chelsea Carey is making her debut on the world stage. 

Action is due to continue until the medal matches on March 27.

It will also be the first event at which points to qualify for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang are available.

Scotland will be another leading challenger, with Olympic bronze medallist Eve Muirhead returning to lead the team which last won gold in 2013.

European champion Anna Sidorova of Russia will also return, and will be hoping to improve on the bronze medals she won at the last two World Championships.

Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea will also compete.

Danish skip Lene Nielsen will be making her seventh World Women's Championship appearance this year and Germany's Daniela Driendl will skip at a World Championship for the second time. 

The Olympic qualification process involves this Championships and the 2017 edition in Beijing.

Hosts South Korea will qualify for Pyeongchang, as will the seven teams with the best qualifying points tally from 2016 and 2017.

The final two places will be decided at a special WCF Olympic Qualification Event, due to be held at the end of 2017.

Live and video-on-demand coverage of the World Championships will be provided by the WCF, with a broadcast schedule available here.

Action will also be available via the WCF YouTube Channel here.