Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
CLUTCH PERFORMANCE 鈥� Yukon forward Alex Hanson makes a move on Nunavut defender Jonathan Kingwatsiak during the bronze medal game at the Arctic Winter Games last month. Hanson scored twice as the Yukon won 5-4.
Yukon capital may host Arctic X Games in 2016
The problem of the six sports excluded from the 2016 Arctic Winter Games may have been solved yesterday in the Yukon legislature.
The problem of the six sports excluded from the 2016 Arctic Winter Games may have been solved yesterday in the Yukon legislature.
Yukon Party MLA鈥圖arius Elias put forward a motion proposing Whitehorse as the host city for the Arctic X Games in March 2016.
The event would not be affiliated with the Arctic Winter Games in Greenland, but would include the six major sports eliminated, and potentially others.
The Arctic X鈥圙ames would be hosted in the Yukon capital March 5 to 12, 2016, Elias revealed.
"The inclusion of at least the six sports into an alternate sporting games matters to me and I know that it also matters to thousands of our territory's citizens,鈥� he said in the legislature yesterday afternoon.
Regardless of political stripe, the territory's leaders gave their unanimous support to Elias's motion, which urged the government to seek firm commitments from other partner jurisdictions planning to participate in the alternate event.
A lack of infrastructure in Nuuk,鈥圙reenland forced the Arctic Winter Games committee to drop midget hockey, curling, dog mushing, figure skating, gymnastics and speedskating from the 2016 event roster.
Despite public outcry, the Games committee chose to stay the course last summer, and participating governments have been exploring alternate options since.
Alongside the eliminated sports, Elias said the Arctic X鈥圙ames could also include sports such as peewee hockey, archery, shooting, judo and freestyle skiing.
Alaska, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are all expected to be major players in the Arctic X Games if they are to be successful, Elias said.
Both the NDP and Liberal parties supported Elias's proposal.
"We wholeheartedly support any endeavour that would give Yukoners, especially young Yukoners, the opportunity to participate in the sports that they have worked so hard to progress in,鈥濃�坰aid NDP鈥圡LA鈥圞evin Barr. "For many young athletes, these Games are a highlight of their young amateur career.鈥�
Liberal MLA鈥圫andy Silver agreed, but did question how the proposed event would be funded.
He urged the government to seek not only commitments of attendance, but also financial commitments from other northern jurisdictions to help cover the costs of the event.
Premier Darrell Pasloski thanked his colleagues for being "proactive,鈥� and noted the inclusion of other sports besides the six excluded events would benefit the community in terms of economics and tourism.
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (6)
Up 5 Down 3
blue line on May 1, 2014 at 7:51 am
Still no Bantam hockey?
WTF??
Up 4 Down 2
sandra sondheim on May 1, 2014 at 6:30 am
When we get an accountable slate of officers on the Arctic Winter Games International Committee we will be in a much stronger position to ensure that the great traditions of the AWGs are intact, athlete-centred and cost effective. Until then, the randomness of this pitiful northern version of the IOC will cause governments to spend funds without proper process and inclusion will go out the window. Smart idea to mitigate a decades-old problem.
Up 9 Down 1
great idea on May 1, 2014 at 4:33 am
I think this is a great idea--especially for those athletes who cannot participate because of a lack of facilities (Greenland should never have been awarded, in my opinion...why didn't they split it up between there and Nunavut like they did the last time?).
However, adding extra sports is just setting a precedence that I don't think we want to get in to. Yes, it would be great to include more youth in the community, however, what is going to happen in upcoming years when they don't get to compete again? I can see them being strong armed in to a "Yukon Games"...and quite frankly, who is going to pay for that?!
Up 7 Down 5
Josey Wales on Apr 30, 2014 at 10:57 pm
Okay I get folks are excited by something kinda new, I do.
That said, no problems were solved folks.
to accommodate a host whom was not up to it, in the name of "inclusion"...Mkaay the AWG's carried on regardless. So yet another layer of spending for sports is created instead? more jetting around(OIL), more goods consumed (OIL&Metals;...MINES), more stuff built (equity contracts given..yes given), and yes all done with YUP...more of our money, at least those whom contribute?
Why don't we pull a "Greenland" and put in a bid for the real Olympics? We can see if the organizers turtle as we did with the AWG's, and bring it here anyway.
They of course would tells us (rightly) to blow chunks.
keeping the kids entertained aside, if ya'll do not see the epic waste of cash and resources required for the entertainment of a few...then it really is no wonder to I why I reside in the largest region of a welfare state that is over ripe with "entitlement syndrome"
...my mere opinion on this current event.
Up 9 Down 15
Stu on Apr 27, 2014 at 2:30 am
This is one of the most positive things the government had proposed.
Maybe they could add a few sport events at the same time for the benefit of people who are around that week.
Up 7 Down 27
Trena Irving on Apr 25, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Alright biking community, let's get a winter fat tire bike race (s) in this local Arctic X Games. Who's with me on this one? It would be so rad鈥�.