You know with a huge event such as the Arctic Winter Games, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 bound to be an element of very important people who will be on hand for the occasion.
One of those very important people is Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay, who will be leading the GNWT delegation to Mat-Su Borough, Alaska for the big show which gets underway on Sunday with the opening ceremony in Mat-Su Borough, Alaska.
McKay said heSA国际影视传媒檚 excited to have the chance to represent the territory on the political side.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been to a few of these before, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 my first time going on the political side and ISA国际影视传媒檓 getting excited,SA国际影视传媒� he told SA国际影视传媒 on Tuesday morning.
Not only will be McKay be going in a political sense, but heSA国际影视传媒檚 also going as a dad. His daughter, Helene McKay-Ivanko, will be playing with the U19 girls hockey team in what will be her final appearance as an athlete in hockey.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the unique things about going in terms of myself: ISA国际影视传媒檓 both a minister and a father,SA国际影视传媒� said McKay. SA国际影视传媒淗opefully, ISA国际影视传媒檒l get to catch some of her games, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to be busy trying to watch all of the other sports where the NWT is going to be competing.SA国际影视传媒�
Team NT has athletes in every single sport except alpine skiing; the longest trip McKay will be making from home base in Wasilla, Alaska is to Anchorage, which is where the biathlon will be taking place. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a one-hour drive.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have some constituents involved in biathlon, so I should really go,SA国际影视传媒� he joked.
One of the big debates surrounding the Arctic Winter Games is the future of the event itself. The next AWG in 2026 were originally scheduled to be hosted by Yamal in Russia, but the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022 meant that the team was suspended indefinitely by the AWG International Committee and the region was stripped of the hosting responsibilities.
Yellowknife was asked to assume the role, but that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 materialize as city council balked at the financial contribution needed. That meant the Games will now be in Whitehorse.
McKay, who was part of Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 town council when the AWG were held in the South Slave in 2018, said one of the issues surrounding the AWG is the size, especially when it comes to smaller locales being able to host.
SA国际影视传媒淭he fear is that itSA国际影视传媒檚 getting past the capacity of smaller areas to be able to host,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 certainly donSA国际影视传媒檛 want it to die off or become a thing of the past because of the lack of interest in hosting. I think we need to look at ways to make it more attractive or easier to host.SA国际影视传媒�
A past suggestion from Lorne Kusugak, a cabinet minister in Nunavut, was to split things into a winter and summer version. Some sports currently in the winter edition could be transferred to a summer edition with some extra sports added to each.
McKay admitted heSA国际影视传媒檇 never heard of that idea before, but isnSA国际影视传媒檛 totally sold on it.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 a quick turnaround if it happens every year,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if the capacity would be there in terms of volunteers. Volunteers are a big part of making these events successful.SA国际影视传媒�
But in terms of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 AWG, McKay said heSA国际影视传媒檚 looking forward to seeing the athletes doing good things and hitting the top of the podium.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping theySA国际影视传媒檒l all bring home gold, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about having a good time and having fun doing it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
