Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 20/06) - Despite initial concerns from athletes and parents, all members of Team NWT have their passports and are ready for the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska.

"We want to stay on the safe side of any laws," said Yvonne Carpenter, a regional co-ordinator for Sport North.

Sport North made passports a requirement for Team NWT hopefuls despite the fact that the United States will not require them of Canadian citizens seeking entry to the country until 2007.

Some athletes did not secure their passports until last week, when they came to Yellowknife for team try-outs.

John Stuart Jr. of Tuktoyaktuk said that more warning would have been preferred.

"The gave us almost no time to prepare," said the Tuktoyaktuk athlete. I'm getting my photo done here (in Yellowknife), and the guy was supposed to be here an hour ago," added Stuart.

Some parents were also concerned about the regulations. Gordon Villeneuve of Fort Smith said in a letter to Northern News Services that Sport North is out of touch with the reality of life of aboriginal people and athletes from smaller communities. "I think that Sport North is out to lunch, again."

Villeneuve said that placing barriers like the passport regulation could discourage young people from becoming active.

Sport North officials said they received no official complaints about the rule and that no athletes were turned away from the trials because they lacked passports.