Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 14/04) - Twenty-three teachers representing all school districts in the NWT came together recently to discuss the formation of a new athletics association.

Two educators from Alberta updated NWT teachers on their new curriculum, which has been adopted by the NWT.

"The attendance was phenomenal," said Rob Meckling, sport consultant for Sport North.

Teachers also helped plan for the 2004/2005 school year "milestone" events. These include the Spike-It volleyball tournament, the Cager basketball tournament, the Super Soccer weekend and the NWT School Track and Field Meet.

In the future, this type of planning will be the responsibility of a new sports organization, the NWT School Athletics Association. It will be led by a steering committee of seven NWT teachers.

The territorial school athletics association would oversee the scheduling and policy-making for school sporting events.

With representation from all school districts in the NWT, it would help assist with planning of territorial sporting events.

Sport North is helping with the formation of the association, but the two entities will be distinct.

"Once (the NWT School Athletics Association) is fully formed, then Sport North will not be directly involved with them," said Richard Daitch, Sport North board member.

The steering committee will meet May 28 to draft a constitution.