Canada Winter Games go north

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More than 3,000 young athletes from across the country will gather in Whitehorse from Feb. 23 to March 10 to take part in the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Athletes age 12 to 18 will be taking part in the sporting event, which will feature competitions in 22 sports.

This year's games will be special for several reasons. Not only does the event mark the 40th anniversary of the Canada Games, but also the first time the games have been hosted by a territory.

Another exciting feature of the upcoming games will be the Dene and Inuit games, traditional northern sports that have been demonstrated at past Canada Games but which will now be making their debut as a medal event. The Dene and Inuit games will be hosted jointly by Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

"Basically, the three territories are combined to host the games and to show our culture and athletic ability by developing this competition," said Dean Masterangelo, Aboriginal sport development officer for the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Seven Inuit medal competition games will be featured, including one-foot high kick, one hand reach, kneel jump and swing kick. Eight demonstration events are also planned, showcasing the knuckle hop, airplane, head pull, triple jump, bench, reach, toe hand and blanket toss. These games are traditional to the Inuit and Inuvialuit of the Artic regions.

Medals will also be presented in five traditional Dene events-finger pull, hand games, snow snake, stick pull and pole push. Some of the planned Dene demonstration events include hoop and pole, moose skin ball and Dene swing.

For more information about the 2007 Canada Winter Games go to www.2007canadagames.ca.