Arctic Winter Games

The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial multi-sport and indigenous cultural event involving circumpolar peoples residing in communities or countries bordering the Arctic Ocean.

History

The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and James Smith, Commissioner of Yukon. The idea to "provide a forum where athletes from the circumpolar North could compete on their own terms, on their own turf" came from Cal Miller, an advisor with the Yukon team at the 1967 Canada Winter Games.
In 1970 in Yellowknife, Canada, 500 athletes, trainers and officials came together for the first Arctic Winter Games. The participants came from the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska. Participants now come from Alaska, Northern Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, Northwest Territories, Greenland, Finland and Norway. The games in 2002 were the first jointly hosted Arctic Winter Games, by Nuuk, Greenland, and Iqaluit, Nunavut. During the 2023 games, Prince William held a video conference with nine participants.
Designed to celebrate the unique sports and cultural heritage of the Arctic, the Games showcases a diverse range of competitions, traditional sports, and cultural events. With a strong emphasis on fostering friendship, cultural exchange, and athletic excellence, the Arctic Winter Games has become a platform for showcasing the talents and traditions of northern communities.
The next Arctic Winter Games are scheduled to take place in Whitehorse, Yukon from 8–15 March 2026.

Nations

Canada - five regions
United States - one region
Greenland
Sápmi - the region stretches over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia
Contingents

Since 2004 the same nine contingents have participated in the Arctic Winter Games. Another four contingents have taken part in the games throughout the games' history: Russia, Magadan, Tyumen and Chukotka. In the table below is an overview of each contingent's appearances throughout the games. Prior to the 2000 Arctic Winter Games Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. After division in 1999, Nunavut competed as separate contingent.

Editions

Host cities have been in Canada, the United States, and Greenland.
File:Arctic.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|The Arctic Circle, currently at roughly 66° north of the Equator, defines the boundary of the Arctic seas and lands

#	Year	Host city	Host country
1	1970	Yellowknife	Canada
2	1972	Whitehorse	Canada
3	1974	Anchorage	United States
4	1976	Schefferville	Canada
5	1978	Hay River / Pine Point	Canada
6	1980	Whitehorse	Canada
7	1982	Fairbanks	United States
8	1984	Yellowknife	Canada
9	1986	Whitehorse	Canada
10	1988	Fairbanks	United States
11	1990	Yellowknife	Canada
12	1992	Whitehorse	Canada
13	1994	Slave Lake	Canada
14	1996	Chugiak / Eagle River	United States
15	1998	Yellowknife	Canada
16	2000	Whitehorse	Canada
17	2002	Nuuk and Iqaluit	Greenland and Canada
18	2004	Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo	Canada
19	2006	Kenai Peninsula Borough	United States
20	2008	Yellowknife	Canada
21	2010	Grande Prairie	Canada
22	2012	Whitehorse	Canada
23	2014	Fairbanks	United States
24	2016	Nuuk	Greenland
25	2018	Hay River / Fort Smith	Canada
-	2020	Whitehorse	Canada
26	2023	Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo	Canada
27	2024	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	United States
28	2026	Whitehorse	Canada
29	2028	Unknown
30	2030	Nunavut	Canada
31	2032	Yukon	Canada

Hodgson Trophy

The Hodgson trophy for fair play and team spirit is awarded at the end of every games. The trophy is named for Stuart Milton Hodgson, former Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.
The past winners of the trophy are:

Year	Winner
1978	Yukon
1980	Yukon
1982	Yukon
1984	Yukon
1986	Yukon
1988	Yukon
1990	Alaska
1992	Northwest Territories
1994	Greenland
1996	Northwest Territories
1998	Yukon
2000	Nunavut
2002	Greenland
2004	Nunavut
2006	Alaska
2008	Nunavut
2010	Alaska
2012	Nunavut
2014	Greenland
2016	Alaska
2018	Alaska
2020	AWG2020 host society volunteers and staff
2023	Greenland
2024	Yukon