DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Ghana only has one athlete at the Vancouver Olympics, but in Fort Providence the African country is at the top of the medal podium.

Team Ghana took the gold medal, Australia took the silver and Sweden and Jamaica tied for bronze in Deh Gah School's mini Olympics. The medal results were announced at a closing ceremony on Feb. 22.

Joseph Antoine heads for the finish line while competing in the snowshoe race, one of the events at Deh Gah School's mini Olympics in Fort Providence. - photo courtesy of Deh Gah School

Unlike the real Olympics, which are designed to showcase the best athletes from around the world, teachers at Deh Gah School devised the miniature version as a way to build school spirit.

"With the Olympics coming up it seemed like a good way to get some students involved and active," said Becky Miller.

Miller, together with fellow teacher Christina Snider, organized the five-day competition. All of the staff and students at the school were divided into eight teams with approximately 17 people in each.

The games kicked off on Feb. 16 with an opening ceremony, just like the real Olympics. The teams paraded into the school's gym carrying their country's flag. All of the athletes swore the Olympic athletes' oath and the immersion classes sang O Canada in Slavey. The athletes then performed the cheers they had written for their countries before competing in the first event, a figure skating relay.

Over the next week, all of the teams competed in two events a day - one indoor and one outdoor - during the last period before dismissal. Events included snow soccer, scooter luge, floor hockey, short track relay, sled races, snowshoe races and tug-of-war. The countries' results from each of the events were tracked on a chart in the school's lobby.

"Everyone has been showing a lot of Olympic spirit," Snider said on Feb. 17.

In day three of the games Mikaela Vandell, 11, was pleased to report her country, China, was in the middle of the standings. Snow soccer has been the best event so far, she said.

"I just like playing soccer," said Vandell.

Christina Bonnetrouge, 12, on Team Australia also enjoyed the outdoor soccer games.

"It's fun," Bonnetrouge said.

Playing soccer in the snow, however, came with a few challenges including having to exert more power with each kick to push the ball through the snow, she said. The mini Olympics are a lot like the real thing, said Bonnetrouge.

Bonnetrouge has been watching curling and snowboarding on television. U.S. snowboarder Shaun White is her favourite Olympic athlete.

"They're awesome," Bonnetrouge said of the Olympic competitors in Vancouver.

For 9-year-old Ryanna Sabourin of Team Sweden, the figure skating relay was a challenge. In the event competitors had to lean their head on a baseball bat and spin around before running along a course. It was hard to walk straight after spinning, said Sabourin.

"I was walking crazy," she said.