麻豆社区

The elimination of six sports from the 2016 Arctic Winter Games could see a wave of athletes leave their preferred sports in order to compete in Greenland through another event, Sport Yukon executive director Tracey Bilsky told the Star this week.

Bilksy was speaking in reaction to the Games' international committee's decision to continue ahead as planned in Nuuk, Greenland without speedskating, figure skating, curling, gymnastics, midget hockey and dog mushing on the program.

The six sports were originally cut from Games programming in September due to a lack of facilities and hosting capacity in Greenland's capital.

But participation in the Arctic Winter Games is a goal for the majority of local athletes, Bilsky said. Athletes who are playing one of the eliminated sports will "most likely vacate that sport and participate in one that's included.鈥�

For instance, Bilsky said she has spoken with a local curler, who has decided to play basketball instead, in order to earn a chance to compete in Greenland.

"It's because of the population that the athletes have that option,鈥� she admitted. "But (the Arctic Winter Games) is definitely a rite of passage.鈥�

Athletes and sport groups have spoken out regarding the cuts since the announcement was made last fall.

"It's an emotional issue for everyone, and we only wish the international committee could've given an inch,鈥� she added.

"Then these kids could have actually participated for a medal and records, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

"We're very concerned about sport development. It sounds dramatic, but I'm speaking on behalf of the sport groups. We were surprised. They didn't give an inch.

"They had an opportunity for an event where these six sports would have the ability to compete in a multi-sport environment, and all they really had to do was say yes, we'll do this. We won't pay for it. We won't organize it, but we will allow it to be under our banner.鈥�

Haines Junction's Mark Ritchie had written a letter to the international committee on behalf of his speedskating sons Christopher, 15, and Michael, 13.

The two took up the sport in 2011, believing they would be able to compete in a number of Arctic Winter Games and Canada Games settings. Both "thoroughly enjoyed鈥� competing in last year's Games in Whitehorse, Mark wrote.

"A four-year gap in AWG will have a very negative impact on their motivation to continue with the sport,鈥� he continued.

"We believe that the long-term development of northern athletes in these six sports will suffer as a result of the four-year gap. The AWG have always been there to motivate our young athletes, and now this opportunity in 2016 has been stolen from them.鈥�

Last month, politicians from across the North urged the international committee to consider all avenues toward a linked tournament that would accommodate the six sports slashed from the Games' schedule.

Iceland was even named as a potential co-host destination, after Iqaluit announced it would be unable to partner with Greenland in 2016. Greenland previously hosted the Games with Iqaluit in 2002, but the Nunavut capital is now preparing to host the event on its own in 2020.

The international committee's decision to forge ahead this week forced the government's hand. Alaska, N.W.T., Nunavut, and the Yukon have since set up a group of their own, which will seek a venue in which to host an exhibition tournament for the six sports at the same time as the 2016 Games.

The tournament will not be linked to the official Arctic Winter Games, however.

"The problem is we're going to run into this again possibly in 2018, if Inuvik decides they want to host, and again in 2020,鈥� said Bilsky. "Can you imagine if cross-country skiing is not in the Arctic Winter Games in 2020?鈥�

Bilsky said each jurisdiction should be able to host the Games, but if they are not able to host a significant portion of the sports approved at the Games level, they should be forced to co-host with another city.

Ritchie, on the other hand, said the alternate event the government is planning "may turn out even better than the Games in Greenland.鈥�

Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor told the Star that the future of the Games will come into focus during a stakeholders meeting next summer.

The 2014 Arctic Winter Games will be hosted in Fairbanks.