AWG INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE MAINTAINS PARTICIPANT ELIGIBIILTY FOR 2023 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES
August 31, 2021 (Whitehorse, YT) – The Arctic Winter Games International Committee
(AWGIC), following consultation with its stakeholders, has made the decision to maintain the years of birth noted within the draft 2022 Arctic Winter Games Technical Packages for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.
The Wood Buffalo 2022 Arctic Winter Games were postponed mid-winter 2021, in a planned and proactive response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Games originally scheduled to take place in Wood Buffalo in March 2022, will now take place January 29 to February 4, 2023.
Held every two-years, the Arctic Winter Games is the premier circumpolar sport and cultural event for youth hosting up to 2,000 participants and an equal number of volunteers.
The AWGIC reviews its sport technical packages, in conjunction with its stakeholders once every two years, however the postponement of the 2022 Games caused a unique circumstance with age categories. Effectively adjusting the age categories to meet the rescheduled year of the Games would have caused youth born in a certain year not to have had the opportunity to participate at all in the Games because they would have “aged out”.
The International Committee engaged in an extensive consultative process with our valued Chefs de Mission from Participating Units. We considered both the Chefs and their sport organizations critical feedback and we analysed the potential effects that changing the sport age categories could have. We came to the conclusion to maintain the draft 2022 Technical Packages years of birth was the fairest situation for the youth participants.
John Flynn, President, Arctic Winter Games International Committee
The decision to postpone the Games was made to ensure the health and safety of all the participants, coaches, volunteers, staff, spectators, and the host community. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic would have likely prevented the Arctic Winter Games International Committee from delivering on their mission to host a meaningful Arctic Winter Games experience. The decision to maintain the years of birth supports inclusivity of participants who were training to attend the 2022 Games.
About the Arctic Winter Games International Committee
The Arctic Winter Games International Committee is the rightsholder, and responsible for the long-term stewardship and management, of the Arctic Winter Games, a biennial premier circumpolar sport and cultural event for youth.
Media Contact:
Moira Lassen, Operations Coordinator operations@arcticwintergames.org
+1.867.333.5522
Motion #2023:
“That the AWGIC agrees to maintain the years of birth noted within the 2022 Arctic Winter Games Technical Packages for 2023 Arctic Winter Games only.”
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
2023 Age Categories
Alpine Skiing
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2008 or 2009
- Born in 2006 or 2007
2023 Age Categories
- Born 2008 - 2009 (some units may prefer to use birth years 2009 - 2010)
- Born 2006 - 2007 (some units may prefer to use birth years 2007 - 2008)
Archery
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2004 - seventeen years of age and under as of December 31, 2021
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2004 or later - eighteen years of age and under as of December 31, 2022 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 or later - seventeen years of age or under as of December 31, 2022)
Arctic Sports
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2005 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2005 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2006 or later)
Badminton
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2006 or later Born in 2003 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2006 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2007 or later)
- Born in 2003 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2004 or later)
Basketball
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2003 or later; born in 2002 (Greenland)
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2003 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2004 or later)
Biathlon - Ski
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2004, 2005, or 2006
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2004 - 2006 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 - 2007)
Biathlon - Snowshoe
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2004, 2005, or 2006
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2004 - 2006 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 - 2007)
Cross- Country Skiing
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2008 or 2009
- Born in 2006 or 2007
- Born in 2004 or 2005
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2008 - 2009 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2009 - 2010)
- Born in 2006 - 2007 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2007 - 2008)
- Born in 2004 - 2005 (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 - 2006)
Curling
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born on or after January 1, 2004
2023 Age Categories
- Born on or after January 1, 2004 (some units may prefer to use birth year January 1, 2005)
Dene Games
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2006 or later Born in 2004 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2006 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2007 or later)
- Born in 2004 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 or later)
Figure Skating
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born between 2004 and 2011. The youngest competitor can be 10 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition. The oldest competitor can be 18 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition.
2023 Age Categories
- Born between 2004 - 2011 (e.g., the youngest competitor can be 11 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition and the oldest competitor can be 19 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition). Some units may prefer to use birth years between 2005 - 2012 (e.g., the youngest competitor can be 10 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition and the oldest competitor can be 18 years and 2 months as of the AWG competition.
Futsal
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2009 or later
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2005 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2009 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2010 or later)
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2005 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2006 or later)
Gymnastics
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born on January 1, 2004 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born on January 1, 2004 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year January 1, 2005 or later)
Hockey
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2004 or later
- Born in 2003 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2004 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 or later)
- Born in 2003 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2004 or later)
Snowboarding
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2008 or later
- Born in 2006 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2008 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2009 or later)
- Born in 2006 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2007 or later)
Snowshoeing
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2003 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2003 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2004 or later)
Speed Skating
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born between July 1, 2007 -June 30, 2010 Born between July 1, 2004 -June 30, 2007
2023 Age Categories
- Born between July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010 (some units may prefer to use born between July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2011)
- Born between July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2007 (some units may prefer to use born between July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2008)
Table Tennis
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2007 or later
- Born in 2004 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2007 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2008 or later)
- Born in 2004 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 or later)
Volleyball
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2004 or later
2023 Age Categories
- Born in 2004 or later (some units may prefer to use birth year 2005 or later)
Wrestling
2022 Age Categories (as per Draft 2 Technical Packages)
- Born in 2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008
2023 Age Categories
- Born 2005 - 2008 some units may prefer to use birth year 2006 - 2009)