New Dates Set for 2023 Arctic Winter Games

The Arctic games set for Wood Buffalo, Canada, has a new date. The Arctic Winter Games International Committee announced in a news release that the event will be held from January 29 to Feb. 4, 2023. The move is a "planned and proactive response" to the COVID-19 pandemic, which postpones the games from March 2022 to the following year.

Following the postponement announcement, the AWGIC worked in collaboration with the Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games Host Society and participating contingents to secure new dates for the host community. The postponement means the games can include a full sport event calendar, active venues and busy teams.

"We are extremely delighted to have rescheduled the Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games to a date that accommodates both the host community and Host Society as well as our valued Chefs de Mission from Participating Units. We truly miss our northern neighbours and look forward to seeing them again in 2023", says John Flynn, President of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee.

"We would like to recognize the continued commitment the Arctic Winter Games International Committee has displayed to our region. It will indeed be our time to shine with the support of our partners, volunteers and our community", says Melissa Blake, Co-Chair of the Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games.

Held every two-years, the Arctic Winter Games is the premier circumpolar sport and cultural event for youth hosting up to 2,000 participants and an equal number of volunteers.

The Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games includes athletes from the Canadian Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Alaska, Greenland, Russia (Yamal), Nunavik (Northern Quebec), Northern Alberta and the Indigenous people (Sami) of Norway, Sweden and Finland.