ABOUT TEAM ALASKA
"From the humble beginnings, the Arctic Winter Games have become one of the most admired amateur sporting events in the world. There are nearly 2,000 athletes and coaches, [over] eighteen sporting events, and exhibitions and performances that showcase our unique northern culture. Participating contingents now include two regions of Russia, four Canadian provinces and territories, Greenland and Alaska. The Games are held every two years, hosted on a rotating basis among the various regions."
- Governor Walter J. Hickel, 2005
Our Mission
To promote the values of respect, fair-play & confidence in Alaskan youth through participation in international sport competitions and cultural exchange
Our Purpose
We select and organize youth athletes to compete in the Arctic Winter Games, a high-profile circumpolar sport competition for Northern and Arctic athletes.
Our History
Established in 1968 as a non-profit, Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska (AWGTA) cultivates and celebrates sport, social exchange, and culture. We strengthen Alaska’s communities by providing young athletes with the opportunity to compete in friendly competition while sharing cultural values from northern regions around the world.
The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Northwest Territories Commissioner Stuart M. Hodgson and Yukon Commissioner James Smith. The idea to "provide a forum where athletes from the circumpolar North could compete on their own terms, on their own turf" came from Cal Miller, an advisor with the Yukon team at the 1967 Canada Winter Games.
A total of nine contingents currently participate in the Arctic Winter Games:
-
Alaska, United States
-
Greenland
-
Northern Alberta, Canada
-
Northwest Territories, Canada
-
Nunavik, Quebec, Canada
-
Nunavut, Canada
-
Sami people, Sápmi (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Kola Peninsula of Russia)
-
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
-
Yukon, Canada
The 2026 Arctic Winter Games
The 2026 Games will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Learn more about the International Committee by clicking here.
Community Partners
