An upcoming visit could be the final step in the city’s plan to host the 2022 Arctic Winter Games. The International Committee President and four members from the selection committee are heading to Grande Prairie on January 14th. Bid Committee Co-Chair Owen Lewis says the group is coming to check out the area and look at possible venues.
“What they’re looking for is really the community itself and is this the appropriate place to host the 2022 Arctic Winter Games. We know it is here in Grande Prairie, we’ve been successful hosting the games in the past… It’s going to be a matter of showing them around to some of the venues where the sports and the cultural activities will take place.”
The games are hosted every two years in colder climates. Grande Prairie last held them in 2010. If the city is chosen, it’s expected that around 2000 athletes, coaches and officials would come to the area.
As part of the tour that day, there will be a trade show taking place at the Eastlink Centre from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. featuring sports demonstrations and a DJ. The centre will also be offering free admission to all of its dry land services. That doesn’t include acquatics.
Lewis hopes the visit will show the committee that Grande Prairie is the right place to host the games.
“We know the community spirit that’s behind it, we know the benefits that can be derived by hosting the Arctic Winter Games and it’s our desire that the committee sees us as the ideal location to host it in 2022.”
Lewis says Grande Prairie and the Wood Buffalo Fort McMurray Region are currently in the running to host. A final decision is expected to be announced at the end of February.