Arctic Winter Games
Arctic Winter Games Logo
First event1970 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Occur every2 years
Last event2023 Arctic Winter Games held in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
PurposeSports for the Arctic
PresidentJohn Flynn[1]
Websitearcticwintergames.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.[2]

The next Arctic Winter Games take place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska[3] from March 10-16, 2024.[4]

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.[5][6][7] Prior to the 2000 Arctic Winter Games Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. After division in 1999, Nunavut competed as separate contingent.

Contingent Year
70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 23
Alaska X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Northwest Territories X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Yukon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Nunavik — X X X — — — — X — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X
Alberta North — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Greenland — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Russia — — — — — — — — — — — X — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Magadan — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X — — — — — — — —
Tyumen — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X — — — — — — — — — — —
Chukotka — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X — — — — — — — — —
Nunavut — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X
Sápmi — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X
Yamal — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X —

Host cities

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.[8]

YearHost CityCountry
1970YellowknifeCanada
1972Whitehorse
1974AnchorageUnited States
1976ScheffervilleCanada
1978Hay River/Pine Point
1980Whitehorse
1982FairbanksUnited States
1984YellowknifeCanada
1986Whitehorse
1988FairbanksUnited States
1990YellowknifeCanada
1992Whitehorse
1994Slave Lake
1996Chugiak/Eagle RiverUnited States
1998YellowknifeCanada
2000Whitehorse
2002NuukGreenland
IqaluitCanada
2004Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo
2006Kenai Peninsula BoroughUnited States
2008YellowknifeCanada
2010Grande Prairie
2012Whitehorse
2014FairbanksUnited States
2016NuukGreenland
2018Hay River/Fort SmithCanada
2020Whitehorse (cancelled)
2023Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo
2024Matanuska-Susitna Borough[3]United States
2026WhitehorseCanada[9]
2028Northwest Territories
2030Nunavut
2032Yukon

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.[10]

The past winners of the trophy are:[10]

Year(s) Winner
1978 Alaska
1980–1988 Yukon
1990 Alaska
1992 Northwest Territories
1994 Greenland
1996 Northwest Territories
1998 Yukon
2000 Nunavut
2002 Greenland
2004 Nunavut
2006 Alaska
2008 Nunavut
2010 Alaska
2012 Nunavut
2014 Greenland
2016–2018 Alaska
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Greenland

Arctic Winter Games International Committee

The Arctic Winter Games International Committee consists of the following people[1]

  • 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.[11]

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

Sport Year
70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 23
Alpine skiing — X — — — — — — — — — — X X — X X X X — 13 13 13 13 — P
Archery — — X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — P
Arctic sports d d X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 35 35 35 35 35 35 P
Badminton X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13 X 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Basketball X X X X X X X — X X X X X X X X X X X 2 2 2 2 2 2 P
Biathlon — — X — — — — — X X X X X X X X — X X 14 14 14 14 14 14 P
Boxing X — X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Broomball — — — — — — — — — X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Cross-country skiing X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24 24 24 24 24 24 P
Curling X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 2 2 3 — 2 P
Dene games — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X 24 24 24 24 24 24 P
Dog mushing — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X 6 6 6 6 — 6 —
Figure skating X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X — X X 13 13 13 13 — 13 P
Freestyle skiing — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 8 — — — — —
Futsal — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 5 5 P
Gymnastics — — X — — — X — X X X X X X X X X X X 6 6 6 6 — 6 P
Ice hockey X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 3 3 3 3 2 3 P
Indoor soccer — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 5 5 5 5 — — —
Judo — X X X X X X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Shooting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X — — — — — — — — — — —
Short track speed skating — — — — — — — X X X — — X X X X X X X 20 20 20 20 — 20 P
Snowboarding — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X 20 20 20 20 16 20 P
Snowshoe biathlon — — — — X X X X X X X X X X — X — X X 14 14 14 14 14 14 P
Snowshoeing — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14 14 14 14 14 14 P
Swimming — — d — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Table tennis X X X X X X X — — — — — X X X — X X X 14 14 12 12 12 12 P
Volleyball X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 2 2 2 2 2 P
Winter triathlon — — — — — — — X X X X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Wrestling — X X X X X — — — — X X X X X X X X X 25 25 25 25 26 25 P
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

References

  1. 1 2 "Arctic Winter Games International Committee". Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Davison, Janet (February 12, 2023), The royals have their causes, but how much difference can they make?, CBC News, retrieved June 4, 2023
  3. 1 2 Arctic Winter Games 2024 to be hosted in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
  4. ↑ "Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games". Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Arctic Winter Games International Committee (2006). "Medal standings". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
  6. ↑ "50th Anniversary of the Arctic Winter Games" (PDF). arcticwintergames.net. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "About the Arctic Winter Games". arcticwintergames.net. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Games and Galleries". Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. ↑ [originally to be hosted by Yamal-Nenets, Russia, but withdrawn by committee due to war against Ukraine]
  10. 1 2 "Hodgson Trophy". Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "ULU News Gallery". Arcticwintergames.org. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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