Greenland to lease Iqaluit arenas for Arctic Winter Games

Nuuk lacks the resources to build an arena for 2016 games

Greenland is planning to use Iqaluit’s arenas when Nuuk (Greenland’s capital and largest city) hosts the Arctic Winter Games in 2016.

The Greenlandic Host Society says Nuuk does not have the resources to build a hockey arena for the games and wants to lease the Iqaluit venues instead.

Amy Elgersma is with the city’s recreation department presented a letter from the Greenlandic Host Society Tuesday night to city council.

“It’s important to note that Iqaluit would not be co-hosting the games,” she said. “We would just be leasing the arenas to the Greenlandic Host Society. The Greenlandic Host Society would be responsible for all costs and planning of the events.”

Council agreed to send a letter approving rental of the space.

Iqaluit and Nuuk co-hosted the 2002 Arctic Winter Games and Iqaluit’s Arctic Winter Games arena was built for the event. It closed in 2003 after the floor began sinking but re-opened to ice sports in 2010 following a $2.2 million repair.

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