‘We’re not going to cancel the games,’ Arctic Winter Games organizers say amid Greenland turmoil
Greenlandic sports officials say they have ‘no concerns’ about sending athletes to the Games
The Arctic Winter Games are now less than two months away.
Excitement among athletes and organizers is growing. But so too are tensions in the circumpolar world, with U.S. president Donald Trump openly musing about a takeover of Greenland.
Trump has even threatened to use military force to seize control Greenland.
The threats come as Whitehorse prepares to host the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in March. The multi-sport gathering will feature athletes from across the circumpolar region including Alaska and upwards of 200 athletes from Greenland.
“We’re not going to cancel the games,” said John Rodda, President of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. “I mean there’s all this chatter going on. If something about the chatter changes and there’s more seriousness we’ll just have to deal with it.”
Rodda, who is American, has been involved with the Games since 1974.
“I have a daughter in-law who is actually Danish and she provides me with her thoughts,” said Rodda. “I have lots of friends around the circumpolar world and at this point our focus is on the games.”
It’s not the first time international politics has cast a shadow on the Games. The Russian delegation was suspended in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine.
We’re not going to cancel the games– John Rodda, President Arctic Winter Games International Committee
In a statement at the time the AWG international committee said the suspension of the Russian team was part of an “ongoing commitment to youth safety, legal compliance, and the integrity of the Games.”
That Russian suspension remains in place.
But planning for the upcoming Whitehorse Games continue as planned.
Claus Nielson, president of the Sport Confederation of Greenland, says the team has no intention of withdrawing from the Games. (David Gunn/CBC )
Claus Nielson, president of the Sports Confederation of Greenland, said in a statement his country’s athletes have no intention of missing the games.
“We have no concerns about sending Greenlandic athletes and coaches to the Arctic Winter Games 2026,” said Nielson. “We have no intention of withdrawing from participation.”
The Arctic Winter Games begin March 8. It will be the fifth time Whitehorse has hosted the event.
The city was slated to host the 2020 event but those games were cancelled just days before the opening ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Russia and China co-operating more often and more closely in the Arctic, says NORAD commander, CBC News
Denmark: Danish foreign minister says Vance will host meeting on Greenland in Washington, Rutte says
Finland: Only Greenland and Denmark can decide on their own future says Finnish President, Yle News
Greenland: ‘No such thing as a better colonizer’: Inuit emphatically reject U.S. takeover of Greenland, CBC News
Iceland: NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: “We want to be Europe’s most integrated region in terms of defence”, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia claims first-ever North Pole aerial refuelling, TASS reports, Reuters
Sweden: Sweden critical of Trump’s latest push for Greenland, Radio Sweden
United States: The U.S. already has leverage in Greenland, so why is Trump escalating? Experts weigh in, Eye on the Arctic
