Fort Simpson (Dec 15/06) - Athletes who want to compete in the Arctic Winter Games need to start planning now.

The games scheduled to be held in Yellowknife in March 2008 are still almost a year and a half away, but registration for the individual sports is fast approaching, said Shane Thompson who will be co-ordinating the Mackenzie region together with Deb Stipdonk.

The process to register for the games has changed. In the past, registration and trials happened the year of the games, said Thompson. Based on decisions from a think-tank run by Sport North this April, the process is now starting a year earlier.

Deadlines to register for sports start as early as Jan. 5, 2007 and finish by March 9 depending on the event. All regions have until April 30 to select their teams with alternates, said Thompson.

Two communities in the Deh Cho will be hosting some of the regional trials. Fort Simpson will hold soccer, hockey for women and midgets, basketball, speed skating and snowboarding. Fort Providence will host Dene Games and Arctic Games.

The changes in registration dates mean that athletes and teams will have nine months to train before the territorial trials in January 2008.

"The athletes will be better prepared to participate there," said Thompson.

A number of other changes have also been made to the regional trials.

This year athletes can only pick two sports.

In the past athletes could pick three to four but this caused problems, said Thompson. If an athlete was chosen for all of their sports they had to pick and that affected the development of some teams, Thompson said.

"Now the kids can focus on the two sports they want to participate in," he said.

Registration fees for coaches and chaperons have been waived. There will be a registration fee of $50 for athletes who have to travel to their event and $25 for those who don't have to travel.

Work is on going in communities with recreation co-ordinators to start competitions at the local level, said Thompson.

Athletes with questions about age qualifications and cut-off deadlines for registration are encouraged to contact their local co-ordinator.