With Erfalarsorput on his shoulders, 59 athletes will soon represent Greenland at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Canada.
On Sunday, March 8, the Games will kick off with an opening ceremony, before the competitions start in earnest on Monday.
But despite the fact that it is sport that brings together the indigenous peoples of the Arctic next week, the AWG is about much more than who wins.
- It is very cultural, of course also sporting, but enormously cultural, I would say.
So says Aviaaja Geisler, Head of Health at The Greenland Sports Federation. Together with a number of coaches, managers and mission staff, she will travel to Canada on Saturday with the excited athletes.
Almost 30 years ago, she herself went as a badminton player, and she has therefore seen AWG develop over the years.
- You didn't help each other across teams, like I remember in badminton, but when I see Arctic sport and Dene Games today and of course also the other sports, they help each other on the field. When they compete against each other, they go over and give each other tips.
- There is this camaraderie, fair play, community and unity despite competition, and that is what is so cool and touching to see and witness and be a part of, she says.
Shaping the path of young people
Greenland will compete against the other territories in Arctic Sport, Dene Games, badminton, table tennis and snowboarding. In addition, a cultural delegation will participate to give a performance at the two cultural galas.
AWG is a youth event. Only Arctic Sport and Dene Games have categories where adults can participate. Therefore, the vast majority of the Greenlandic athletes are also young people.
Aviaaja Geisler says that AWG brings people together across cultures, and gives young people friends and experiences for life.
- I hope it is something that can help shape the path of these young people or their idea of what they want for the future, she says.
Like her, there are also several former participants who have returned as coaches, leaders, mission staff and officials.
Teamwork is important
Although many of the athletes hope to bring home a medal, sporting results are not the most important success criterion for the Greenland Sports Federation.
But what is it?
- That athletes, coaches and managers, but also us - the entire Greenland delegation - can inspire children and young people to want to be more physically active.
- And that some role models are created, some good ambassadors for children and young people, says Aviaaja Geisler.
She is looking forward to a week where the Greenlandic athletes can meet their peers from the rest of the Arctic and exchange culture and language.
- I think in these times it is important to be united and that we stand together, she says.
In addition to Greenland, the teams participating are Alaska, Alberta North, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik-Quebec and Sapmi. Russia has been excluded since the war in Ukraine started.
