Greenland hosts the Arctic Winter Games and it will be bigger than ever

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Oct. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Article by: Kirstine Dinesen, http://www.greenland.com/en/

Greenland previously co-hosted the Arctic Winter Games in 2002 in collaboration with Iqaluit. The event was a huge success to the managers, the country, and its citizens. In only six months the event will return to Greenland, as they are hosting the world’s largest multi-sports and cultural event for young people of the Arctic.

The Arctic Winter Games is held every second year, each time hosted by a different nation or region of the Arctic area. The games is a celebration of sports, youth, and cultural enjoyment while focusing on global attention on Greenland and creating ties with other Arctic nations.

Twice as big as the 2002 games

The Arctic Winter Games is held from March 6-12 2016, and it will be the biggest event of its kind in the history of Greenland. With more than 1700 participants, the games will be twice as big compared to the previous edition. This will be the first time Greenland will be responsible for hosting the event alone, and the country will have to use the experience from the games held in 2002.

General Manager of AWG 2016, Maliina Abelsen, says: “This is the first time that we will be responsible for hosting the entire event alone. (...) We must experience from 2002, but also develop something new. (...) we shall certainly build on some of the very positive elements that were created during the Games in 2002 (...).” Former General Manager of AWG, Michael Binzer, says: “One of the differences is that the citizens already know about AWG. Everything was new when we co-hosted AWG in 2002, so I think it will be easier to get volunteers, but logistically it will be a greater challenge.

Maliina Abelsen estimates that the Games will be in need of almost 1500 volunteers compared to the 900 who volunteered in 2002. This is a huge endeavour, which requires involvement of all sectors of society before, during and after the Games. The ability to plan, manage and organize would not be possible without the help of more than 1000 volunteers.

Bringing cultures together

The Arctic Winter Games is a project where people can come together as a community and collaborate. The Games creates awareness about cultural diversity, and binds Arctic countries together through a celebration of youth, culture, and sport.

By bringing the Games back to the largest Arctic continent in the world, Greenland has an opportunity to show its face to the world. Around 500 journalists will be covering the event, which is a rise of more than 40 percent compared to the Games in 2002.

The Official National Tourism Agency of Greenland is excited that the Games finally returns to Greenland. “The Games are at once social and competitive in nature and serve to create cross-cultural ties in the Arctic on many levels.” Visit Greenland serves to promote the country’s adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world’s largest island. “The next games (...) will be a great time to see what this small scale Arctic metropolis can offer in terms of both active adventures and cultural experience.