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Looking for solutions
Ministers urge AWG committee to allow partner sites

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, Oct 31, 2012

RANKIN INLET
We can work it out. That was the message delivered by Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak at a meeting between territorial sports ministers and the Arctic Winter Games International Committee (AWGIC) in Fairbanks, Ala., earlier this month.

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Lorne Kusugak: Is working to have six sports reinstated into the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.

The ministers met with the AWGIC to discuss options to dropping sports at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Nuuk, Greenland.

In September, the AWGIC announced six sports - speed skating, figure skating, curling, gymnastics, midget hockey and dog mushing - wouldn't be part of the 2016 Games, due mainly to a lack of capacity and the AWGIC's desire to reduce the number of athletes at the Games.

Kusugak said the ministers would like to see the dropped sports put at another venue under the AWG banner.

He said there were some good suggestions tabled, but it all hinges on if the AWGIC will allow it.

"They'd have to change some of their policies, but could they look at doing some of the excluded sports in Iqaluit and still have ulus and be part of the ceremonies in some way?" said Kusugak.

"The City of Iqaluit would have to be interested in putting together a host committee and that takes a lot of work and commitment.

"If Iqaluit couldn't, then certainly Yellowknife or Inuvik, among others, could host the excluded sports."

Kusugak said if the AWGIC is willing to explore any of the options, the group will discuss it further.

He said there is a chance it can be worked out.

"The AWGIC vice-president (Wendell Schiffler) said at the end of the day, it all comes down to money.

"He told us if we have the money to do this, the committee can do anything.

"If that's the case, there are solutions to include those sports in the Games under the AWG banner.

"We left with work to do, but, when we meet around April, we'll sit down with a solution to reinstate all, or most of, the excluded sports."

AWGIC president Gerry Thick wasn't able to attend the meeting.

Kusugak said that sent a message he didn't want to receive, but, hopefully, Thick's absence won't impact the AWGIC's final decision.

He said the important thing is to fund a way to have the kids compete at the 2016 AWG and beyond.

"These same issues will come up with sports like skiing when Nunavut hosts the 2020 Games.

"We have to be careful in trying to do this, because we don't want it to come back in our face.

"We want to find solutions to the Greenland issue that, hopefully, will stay true when Nunavut hosts."

Hockey Nunavut president Darrin Nichol said he was upset about the loss of midget hockey in 2016.

He said letters were written to the AWGIC to express Hockey Nunavut's concern and frustration.

"We had heard rumblings about this months earlier, but Hockey Nunavut was still extremely disappointed with the announcement of the midget program being eliminated from the 2016 AWG," said Nichol.

"We'd already lost the peewees a number of years ago, so our position was no division should be eliminated.

"Hockey is a huge circumpolar sport, but it isn't just about the hockey.

"Yes, it's a huge loss to our players, but it's also a huge developmental loss to our referees, coaches and other support personnel who work towards this event throughout their entire minor-hockey program, so we certainly want to see the midgets put back for the 2016 Games and if it's an alternate venue, so be it."

Gymnastics coach Lisa Kresky of Rankin Inlet said she knew of the lack of facilities for gymnastics in Nuuk, so she wasn't shocked when the announcement came, but she was very disappointed.

She said there's five contingencies now that Team Nunavut is represented in gymnastics at the AWG.

"For some athletes - not just from here, but other areas as well - this is one of the main competitions the kids work towards," said Kresky.

"It's hard to travel to competitions, so this is one they definitely look forward to.

"So, obviously, we're disappointed our sport was one to be dropped, but we were also shocked to see the number of overall sports dropped."

Kresky said in truth, AWG gymnastics only means four girls and she has 23 in the Rankin competitive program.

She said while it would be disappointing if those kids don't get to go, life goes on and she'd do her best to find another competition.

"They have other competitions to work towards each year, so the AWG are an extra treat for a lot of my kids.

"We motivate ourselves by having other competitions, so, although the girls would miss the AWG, we understand the situation and will make the best of it.

"We'll find other competitions, keep improving, and come back even stronger four years down the road."

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