Arctic Winter Games facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arctic Winter Games

Arctic Winter Games Logo
First event	1970 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Occur every	2 years
Last event	2023 Arctic Winter Games held in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Purpose	Sports for the Arctic
President	John Flynn
Website	arcticwintergames.net

The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial multi-sport and indigenous cultural event involving circumpolar peoples residing in communities or countries bordering the Arctic Ocean.

History

The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon Commissioner James Smith. The idea to "provide a forum where athletes from the circumpolar North could compete on their own terms, on their own turf" came from Cal Miller, an advisor with the Yukon team at the 1967 Canada Winter Games.

In 1970 in Yellowknife, Canada, 500 athletes, trainers and officials came together for the first Arctic Winter Games. The participants came from the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska. Since then, the Games have been held on 15 occasions in different locations in the Arctic region, with participation steadily growing. The games in 2002 were the first jointly hosted Arctic Winter Games, by Nuuk, Greenland, and Iqaluit, Nunavut. During the 2023 games, Prince William, heir to the Canadian throne, spoke virtually with nine participants.

The next Arctic Winter Games take place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska from March 10-16, 2024.

Nations

1. Canada - five regions (Alberta North, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Nunavut, Yukon)
2. United States - one region (Alaska)
3. Greenland
4. Sápmi - the region stretches over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia
5. Russia - four regions (former member)

Contingents

Since 2004 the same nine contingents have participated in the Arctic Winter Games. Another four contingents have taken part in the games throughout the games' history: Russia, Magadan, Tyumen and Chukotka. In the table below is an overview of each contingent's appearances throughout the games. Prior to the 2000 Arctic Winter Games Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. After division in 1999, Nunavut competed as separate contingent.

Editions

An athlete performing a two-foot high kick at the 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Host cities have been in Canada, the United States, and Greenland.

The Arctic Circle, currently at roughly 66° north of the Equator, defines the boundary of the Arctic seas and lands

Hodgson Trophy

The Hodgson trophy for fair play and team spirit is awarded at the end of every games. The trophy is named for Stuart Milton Hodgson, former Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

The past winners of the trophy are:

Arctic Winter Games International Committee

The Arctic Winter Games International Committee consists of the following people

• John Flynn - Yukon, President
• John Rodda - Alaska, Vice President/Treasurer
• Ian Laegraee - Northwest Territories, International Director
• Leigh Goldie - Alberta, Secretary
• Marie Cairns - Yukon, director
• Karl Davidsen - Greenland, director
• John Estle - Alaska, director
• Gary Schauerte - Northwest Territories, director
• Kyle Seely - Nunavut, director
• Les Skinner - Northwest Territories, director
• Don Wilson - Alberta, director
• Moira Lassen - Yukon, Operations Coordinator

Sports disciplines

A total of 29 sports have been represented at the Arctic Winter Games. Arctic Sports, badminton, cross country skiing, ice hockey and volleyball are the only sports to be featured in all editions of the Arctic Winter Games.

The table below shows the sports and the years in which they have been a part of the Arctic Winter Games programme.

X = The sport was featured in this Arctic Winter Games.

12 = The sport was featured in this Arctic Winter Games. The number indicates the amount of medal-giving events in that sport.

d = Demonstration sport with no medal-giving events.

P = The sport is planned to be a part of an upcoming edition of the Arctic Winter Games.

— = The sport did not feature in this edition of the Arctic Winter Games.

Arctic Winter Games alumni

• The Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, presented Aisa Pirti, a 19-year-old Inuk from Akulivik, Nunavik, with the National Aboriginal Role Model Award during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Aisa has received 30 medals and five trophies for Inuit games in regional and circumpolar competitions, such as the Arctic Winter Games and the Eastern Arctic Summer Games.

See also

• Arctic Sports
• World Eskimo Indian Olympics
• Native Youth Olympics (NYO Games)
• Nunatsinni Unammersuarneq
• Nalukataq (Traditional Blanket Toss Celebrations)