麻豆社区

Reducing the number of sports for 2016 Arctic Winter Games in Greenland should not come as a surprise to the Yukon government, says the president of the international Games committee.

Gerry Thick said today that following the 2002 Games hosted by Greenland and Nunavut, the committee 鈥� with representation from all governments 鈥� decided not to have the Games hosted in two jurisdictions anymore.

The decision was made for a number of reasons, including cost, logistics and the quality of experience by athletes as discussed in 2003-04 following the analysis of the 2002 Games, he explained.

Thick emphasized the government committee members and other members knew back then that limiting the Games to one host community would envitably mean reducing the number of participants when smaller communities bid.

They knew back then when it came to Greenland's turn, contingents of athletes from across the North would have to be smaller, he said.

Thick said he understands the response to this week's announcement that midget hockey, curling, figure skating, speed skating, gymnastics and dog mushing will not be included in the 2016 Games hosted by Nuuk.

"But for me, as president of the committee, I have to defend it,鈥� he said. "That was the decision they all made, and all of those governments were aware that sports would have to be cut.鈥�

Thick pointed out its not unusual for sports to be left out, as the Games are tailored to the ability and facilities available to the host.

But resistance to Monday's announcement from parents and athletes has been swift and emotional, executive director Tracey Bilsky of Sport Yukon said in an interview yesterday.

Bilsky said the very foundation of the Arctic Winter Games going all the way back to the first Games in 1970 was to provide a venue and a goal for young athletes to reach for.

It was recognized athletes from the smaller northern populations had limited opportunities to compete at the national level, she explained.

Bilsky noted that gymnasts must be performing at a level three national standard to compete at the Arctic Winter Games, but at level five for the Canada Winter Games.

Speed skaters who want to compete nationally must crack minimum times much more restrictive than qualifying times for the Arctic Winter Games, she said.

Bilsky said there's no question in her mind the decision to exclude the sports from the 2016 will have a negative impact.

"The sports governing bodies and the people within those sports reacted very strongly, especially parents with kids who are in those sports and whose year would be 2016 to attend,鈥� she said.

"They are looking to Minister (Elaine) Taylor to be their voice and be their champions to ask the international committee to find another solution rather than the elimination of five sports and one division of hockey.鈥�

Bilsky said the minister will be meeting with her counterparts in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to discuss the situation and encourage the international Games committee to find another solution.

There were 335 Yukon athletes and coaches for the Games hosted by Whitehorse last winter, she pointed out, noting the last Canada Games team included 110 athletes because those Games are far more elite.

Bilsky said for many the Arctic Winter Games is the top, the driving force behind their participation and motivation.

Taking away the Games for those on track for 2016 will have an impact on participation of those sports, she said, adding there'll be a whole age class of northerns who'll miss their opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games.

Bilsky said she's heard of the challenges that faced Greenland and Nunavut in 2002, with Greenland having never hosted a Games and Nunavut being a relatively new territory.

It's now 10 year's on though, and times have changed, she said. The executive director pointed out there's still the provision in the Games policiy for host communities to have satellite venues, just as Nuuk plans to use Iqaluit in 2016 to provide an arena for bantam boys and girl's hockey.

Bilsky said cutting the sports for 2016 would effect approximately 70 Yukon athletes, based on the number of participants in those sports for last winter's Games.

Thick said hockey participants in 2016 will be flown to Nuuk for the opening ceremony, then flown back to Iqaluit for the duration of their competitions and then returned to Nuuk for the remainder of the Games and closing ceremonies.

When Nuuk delivered its bid package in 2011 with a list of its capabilities and facilities, it was the international committee which made the final selections of sports for 2016, he said.

Thick said athlete contingents may be smaller than they have been in the past in 2018 when the Northwest Territories is scheduled to host, if a smaller community like Hay River bids to have the Games and is successful. Hay River, he said, came close to knocking off Yellowknife for the 2008 Games.

Thick pointed out Nunavut is scheduled in the rotation for 2020, and it too may have fewer opportunities than the larger centres like Whitehorse.

Back in 2004, he pointed out, Greenland indicated it could only host 1,200 athletes from each contingent when it came its turn in 2010.

In 2008, Greenland indicated it wasn't ready, so Alberta stepped in at the last minute, Thick explained.

He said Greenland has now bumped up its original estimate of 1,200 athletes per contingent to 1,700.

By CHUCK TOBIN

Star Reporter