Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can you feel it? Can you feel the excitement? It's in the air because the 2018 Arctic Winter Games are almost here. The towns of Hay River and Fort Smith have been busy for the past three years getting ready for the 25th Arctic Winter Games, and now the final preparations are being made to put on what will undoubtedly be the biggest event this territory has seen in the past decade, and that is being modest.
We are less than a week away from the opening ceremonies on March 18th at the Hay River Recreation Centre. Mr. Speaker, what a way to break in the brand new recreation centre, and when I say brand new, I mean brand new. It opens tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, it's a thing of beauty. That facility is undeniably the most beautiful sports and recreation centre in the NWT, and it alone is worth a trip to Hay River.
The opening ceremonies will be a spectacle that you do not want to miss, but that is just one of the many things to see and do during the week-long games.
Do you like sports? There will be badminton, ski biathlon, snowshoe biathlon, Dene games, dog mushing, futsal, gymnastics, hockey, snowshoeing, volleyball, wrestling. I am still going, Mr. Speaker. There will be arctic sports, basketball, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, and table tennis. Hay River is host to 11 events. Fort Smith is hosting nine.
There will be competitors from Nunavut; Yukon; Nunavik; Northern Alberta; Greenland; Alaska; Yamalo, Russia; Sapmi; and, of course, the Northwest Territories. The 353 Members of Team NWT include athletes, coaches, mission staff, and cultural performers, and I have to give a shout-out to the participants from Hay River North, athletes Trey Beck, Riella Bordey, Nicole Griffiths, Layne Leonard, Chandelle Leonard, and coach Therese Fordy.
If sports aren't your thing, that's not a problem, Mr. Speaker, because each contingent is bringing cultural delegates who will showcase cultures and talents from around the circumpolar world. There will be daily cultural performances in Fort Smith and a cultural gala on March 23rd at Fort Smith's Catholic cathedral. The Arctic Winter Games marketplace will be held at the Chief Sunrise school gym at the K'atlodeeche First Nation Reserve, and it will be a must-see. There are also to be a number of exhibits and workshops in both communities that you will not want to miss.
There is going to be a lot to see, so don't forget to bring your camera, and, when you are taking a selfie with Kechi, the AWG mascot, don't forget to wear your official Arctic Winter Games gear, available at stores throughout the South Slave.
Finally, thank you to the host society, the sponsors, and all of the volunteers who are making these games a reality, and, of course, good luck to all of the athletes. So come one, come all, and find your power at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.