 Arctic Winter Games Logo | |
| First event | 1970 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada |
|---|---|
| Occur every | 2 years |
| Last event | 2024 Arctic Winter Games held in the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska |
| Purpose | Sports for the Arctic |
| President | John Rodda [1] |
| Website | arcticwintergames.org |
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.
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. Participants now come from Alaska, Northern Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, Northwest Territories, Greenland, Finland and Norway. The games in 2002 were the first jointly hosted Arctic Winter Games, by Nuuk, Greenland, and Iqaluit, Nunavut. During the 2023 Games, Prince William spoke virtually with nine participants. [2] Participants now come from Alaska, Northern Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, Northwest Territories, Greenland, Finland and Norway.
Designed to celebrate the unique sports and cultural heritage of the Arctic, the Games showcases a diverse range of competitions, traditional sports, and cultural events. With a strong emphasis on fostering friendship, cultural exchange, and athletic excellence, the Arctic Winter Games has become a platform for showcasing the talents and traditions of northern communities.
The next Arctic Winter Games take place in Whitehorse, Yukon [3] from March 8-15, 2026. [4]
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 | 24 | |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | X |
| Nunavik | — | X | 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 | X |
| Greenland | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | 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 | X |
| Sápmi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Yamal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | — | — |
Host cities have been in Canada, the United States, and Greenland. [8]
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. [9]
The past winners of the trophy are: [9]
| 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 | AWG2020 Host Society Volunteers & Staff |
| 2023 | Yukon |
| 2024 | Greenland |
The Arctic Winter Games International Committee consists of the following people [1]
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. [10]
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 | 24 | |
 Alpine skiing | — | X | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | — | X | X | X | X | — | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | — | X | X |
 Archery | — | — | X | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
 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 | X |
 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 | X | X |
 Biathlon | — | — | X | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | — | X | X | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
 Dene games | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
 Freestyle skiing | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
 Futsal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | X | X |
 Gymnastics | — | — | X | — | — | — | X | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
| 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 | X | X |
 Snowboarding | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 | X | X |
 Snowshoe biathlon | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | — | X | — | X | X | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | X | X |
 Snowshoeing | — | — | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | X | X |
 Swimming | — | — | d | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
 Table tennis | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | — | — | — | — | — | X | X | X | — | X | X | X | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | X | X |
 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 | X | X |
| 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 | X | X |
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