Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, this weekend NWT athletes will travel to Iqaluit, Nunavut and Nuuk, Greenland, to compete in the 2002 Arctic Winter Games. This year the games will be held from March 17th to the 23rd. The NWT will be represented by 214 athletes from 19 northern communities. Team NWT will also include several coaches, mission staff, chaperones and 17 cultural delegates.
Team NWT will be joined by teams from Alaska, the Yukon, Northern Alberta, Nunavut, Northern Quebec, Greenland and the Russian provinces of Chukotka and Magadan.
Mr. Speaker, since the first official games in Yellowknife in 1970, the GNWT has been among the strongest supporters of the Arctic Winter Games and the opportunities they provide for the advancement of athletic competition and cultural awareness in the NWT.
The Arctic Winter Games are also an important opportunity for NWT youth to meet and learn about some of our neighbours. The games also play an important role in the development of NWT athletes. Through the games and the trials process, our athletes have the opportunity to experience competition at a higher level.
In addition to the athletes travelling to the games, 1,114 athletes from 23 communities participated in regional trials, and 684 athletes from 21 communities took part in the territorial trials.
This year the games are being co-hosted in two communities, Iqaluit and Nuuk. This is part of an attempt to explore different hosting models. Allowing different communities to co-host the games may allow other smaller communities to play a part in hosting the games in the future.
Also while in Nuuk, Minister Ootes and I have scheduled a meeting with our ministerial counterpart from Greenland to address how the cultural and sporting aspects of the games can be enhanced in years to come.
Mr. Speaker, in light of our commitment to invest in the people of the NWT - particularly the health and well-being of our youth - it is imperative that this government continues to stand behind this exciting and high profile event.
More than ever this year the eyes of Canada, through a variety of national media outlets, will be on our northern athletes. The young men and women that will compete in Iqaluit and Nuuk represent the exciting and competitive future that is in store for our territory.
It will be with pleasure and pride that Commissioner Hansen, Minister Ootes and myself will be meeting our athletes and participating, on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, in the opening ceremonies.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite my fellow Members to join me in wishing Team NWT good luck as it travels to the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you.
-- Applause