Loga samegillii.
On Sunday, the Arctic Winter Games 2023 (AWG 2023) begin in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The city belongs to the Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
The Sápmi team participates with 43 young people and 13 adults. The Sápmi team participates in cross-country skiing, futsal and culture.
At the Arctic Winter Games, there are competitions in 20 different sports, both indoors and outdoors. Here are sports as diverse as archery, ice hockey, speed skating, snowshoeing and traditional Arctic Aboriginal sports.
TEAM BRIEFING: Sápmi 2023 team leader Ron Walter Knutsen during a briefing at the Radisson Blu in Gardermoen. – It’s a real pleasure to be with this group, says Knutsen, the bodøværing.
Photo: Stig Tovås / Team Sápmi 2023
32 degrees Celsius
This week, it was mild in Fort McMurray.
The latest temperature forecast for an.no shows that it will be freezing cold when the games begin in earnest. On Monday, it will drop to 28 degrees at its coldest. Tuesday minus 32, Wednesday minus 27 and Thursday minus 25.
For cross-country skiers, this will be a challenge.
– If it is so cold, there will be no cross-country competitions. We do not send any athlete regardless of what is decided by the organizers. That’s what Sápmi 2023 team leader Ron Walter Knutsen tells NRK.
The Institute of Public Health states that severe cold can cause frostbite and frostbite on the face, fingers, toes and other exposed body parts.
Norwegian Ski Association have set cold limits for cross-country competitions.
- For children and young people: minus 15 degrees
- For juniors and seniors: minus 18 degrees
The Fort McMurray Cross Country Stadium sits on a ridge above the valley in which the city sits.
– It is milder there than in the cold hole itself. We hope that the competitions can be organized, Knutsen said hopefully in his voice.
MINI OLYMPICS: The Arctic Winter Games are experienced as something big for participants, organizers, volunteers and the public alike. – It’s like the Olympic Games in miniature, says Ron Walter Knutsen. The photo is of the AWG Torch at Nuuk 2016.
Photo: Nils John Porsanger / NRK
These are selected from the Sápmi team
Sápmi is tiny compared to the other seven participating regions. At the 2016 Nuuk Games, Alaska won 216 medals. Sápmi was bottom with her 19 medals.
In five days, 633 medals were awarded at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games. That’s 211 medals of each denomination, gold, silver and bronze. The Russian Yamal is not taking part this year because of the war against Ukraine.
Photo: Screenshot / awg2016.org
These are selected from the Sápmi team:
futsal girls:
Ida Nibe Øyen (THIRST), Victoria Haukebøe (Medkila IL), Vilja EG Sommerseth (Furuflaten IL), Frida Kristine Killie (THIRST), Mia Tokle (Furuflaten IL), Anna Marie H Sokki (Ranheim IL), Cecilia J Elvevoll (Medkila IL), Mathilde Kiil Jakobsen (Medkila IL), Thea Hammer Johansen (IL Grand).
futsal boys:
Jonathan A Jakola (Norild IL), Love Villgott J Lilja (IF Lycksele), Olov Johannes Blind (Saltdalkameratene), Marius Solbakken (IL Nordlys), Aslak-Anders Oskal (Reinen IL), Felix Maki Helander (IL Nordlys), Hans Ailo Siri (Nordreisa IL), Nils Mathias Boine (IL Nordlys), Julian Olsen (Fauske Sprint).
SÁPMI TEAM: Represent Sápmi at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray.
Photo: Stig Tovås / Team Sápmi AWG
Cross-country skiers, girls:
Johanne Ims (Mountain Ski Team), Thea Amalie Olsen (Mountain Ski Team), Risten Maija Aasprong (ILAR), Elle Anne Grethe Sara (Kautokeino IL), Julie Trosten (Sirbmá), Lea-Christine Sara (Kautokeino IL ), Lilli Anne Weydahl Guttorm (IL Nordlys), Inga Hanna Teresa Mienna (Kautokeino IL), Frida Agersborg Skånhaug (mountain ski team), Sunniva Maria Haukebøe (mountain ski team), Emili Portti (Anàr Sàmisearvi).
Cross-country skiers, boys:
Ingvar Dervola Johansen (Sirbmá), Elias Tervaniemi (Anàr Sàmisearvi), Juhan Niillas Aasprong (ILAR), Iver Mathiesen Knutsen (Innstranda IL), Pekka Tervaniemi (Anàr Sàmisearvi), Nils-Markus Marakatt (Sohppar Sami Searvi), Ravn-Mathias Sara Gulsrud (IL Nordlys), Jåvva Rensberg (Daastan Siebrie), Petter Dervola (Sirbmá), Helge Ims (mountain ski team), Vetle Mathiesen Knutsen (Innstranden IL), Sebastian Molund (mountain ski team).
Cultural stakeholders:
Sara Nilut and Inga Marja Andersdatter Lango will sing and dance.
– We hope that both futsal teams can fight for gold in their categories. In total for the Sápmi team, I would say 15 to 20 medals of different denominations, estimates Ron Walter Knutsen.
GLADJENG: Leader Ron Walter Knutsen with the participants from Bodø.
Photo: Private
