Team Northern Alberta played in the first female hockey match of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alberta. (Photo: Arctic Winter Games International Committee and AWG 2023 Host Society | THOMAS HOPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY)

By Sarah Jones

Alberta hosting the 2023 Arctic Winter Games after five-year postponement

Jan 30, 2023 | 2:53 PM

WOOD BUFFALO, AB – It’s been five years in the making for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

In February 2019, the International Committee for the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) announced that athletes would be headed to Northern Alberta in 2020 for its 50th anniversary.

Held every two years, the Arctic Winter Games is a multisport competition for northern and arctic athletes and is acclaimed as a cultural celebration.

After a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games kicked off its official opening ceremony on January 29, 2023 in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The Arctic Winter Games opening ceremony took place in Fort McMurray on January 30, 2023. (Photo: Arctic Winter Games International Committee and AWG 2023 Host Society)

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Over 2,100 athletes and coaches from Greenland, Sapmi (the northern regions of Finland, Sweden, and Norway), Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Northern Alberta will take part in the international games.

Arctic sports played in the games include alpine skiing, archery, snowshoeing, figure skating, futsal, curling, hockey, snowboarding, cross country skiing, wrestling and more.

Each of the events are set to take place in 13 different venues across the municipality.

A shared statement from Minister of Northern Affairs, Dan Vandal and Minister of Sport, Pascale St-Onge explained, “The Games remain an important showcase for unity and teamwork between First Nations, Inuit, Métis and non-Indigenous communities.”

The ministers continued, “The Arctic Winter Games’ mission is to promote athletic competition, culture and reconciliation. One of the Games’ highlights will be the Cultural Gala featuring young northern performers specializing in music, theatre and dance.”

Snowboarder at the Arctic Winter Games hitting a box on January 29, 2023. (Photo: Arctic Winter Games International Committee and AWG 2023 Host Society)

Through Sport Canada, the Government of Canada has invested $2.5 million into the Arctic Winter Games.

Several events kicked off on Monday, January 30, 2023, and a full list of times, results and medals can be found on the AWG 2023 website.

The Arctic Winter Games runs from now until February 4, 2023, with the closing ceremony taking place at 3:30 p.m. at Legacy Dodge Field in Fort McMurray.

Alaska is set to host the Arctic Winter Games in 2024.

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