Facebook: www.facebook.com/AWG2014; Twitter @awg2014; Instagram @awg2014; YouTube Channel arcticwintergames14; Flickr awg_2014; #awg2014 ULU NEWS WWhat’shat’s hhotot HHereere fforor tthehe ccomeome tthehe 22014014 GGames!ames! AArcticrctic PPageage 3 WWinterinter RRaaveeaavee GGamesames ggetsets readyready ttoo soarsoar PPageage 6 A hhistoryistory ooff tthehe PUBLISHED BY GGamesames PHOTO COURTESY GREG MARTIN PPageage 1122 2 ULU NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 Table of contents A letter from the president From the president ............................................... 2 Hosting the Arctic Winter Games begins with the community assessing if there is enough capacity to host the world’s largest circumpolar sport and cultural event; capacity in terms of venues to host the 20 sporting events, a location for the Athletes Here come the games ....................................... 3 Village to house and feed 2000 athletes, transportation infrastructure to move thou- sands of athletes, coaching staff, family members and spectators, and thousands of Raavee takes flight ................................................ 6 volunteers to operate the games, not to mention the financial capacity to fund the games. Volunteers are a driving force ....................... 9 For Fairbanks, this assessment began in the spring of 2010, when Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins and the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau sent a small exploratory team to attend the 2010 Arctic Winter Games in Grand Prairie, Alberta The Games on social media ......................... 10 Canada. Upon their return, an organizing bid committee was formed and a formal letter was sent to Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, declaring Fairbanks’ intention to bid the A history of the Games .................................. 12 hosting of the Games in 2014. During the next seven months, prior to the site selec- tion visit by the Arctic Winter Games International Committee in 2011, a 152 page A cauldron becomes an art legacy ......... 13 bid document was prepared and submitted. When AWGIC President Gerry Thick returned to Fairbanks in February, the Fairbanks community’s interest, excitement, Gameswear Fridays .......................................... 14 preparation and commitment to host the 2014 Games was evident and sealed the deal; Fairbanks was selected to host the 2014 Games! Subsequently after selection, the nonprofit Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games Host Society was incorporated Alaska brands supporting Fairbanks ........ 14 to accept the responsibility to successfully host the Games in 2014. Since Spring 2011, the Host Society, comprised solely of volunteers, hired a general manager and Father, son share love of the Games ...... 18 a handful of staff to help raise funds, secure state funding, recruit needed volunteers, engage the community and meet every milestone required by the Arctic Winter By the numbers: The Games add up ...... 19 Games International Committee guidelines and requirements. Incredible partner- ships have been formed, beginning with Gov. Sean Parnell, Lt. Gov. Treadwell and Content provided by Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games Host Society the Legislature, to secure required state funding to host the Games on behalf of the P.O. Box 71370, Fairbanks, AK 99707 state. Offi ce: 330 Barnette St., Fairbanks, Alaska One Alaska community is selected to host the Games every 10 years. Fairbanks has Telephone: (907) 456-2014, Fax: (907) 456-2044 had the privilege and honor to have previously hosted the Games in 1982 and 1988. On the web: awg2014.org The Fairbanks North Star Borough, city of Fairbanks and city of North Pole have Printed by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner been strong partners since the beginning, providing financial and in-kind support to 200 N. Cushman St., Fairbanks, Alaska. not only bid for the Games but also to support the Host Society as the organization developed. The Games could not be hosted without the partnership with Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. In addition to using school facilities for hous- ing and sporting events, the school district has promoted the Games through special events and curriculum activities. Other major community partners include the Uni- versity of Alaska Fairbanks, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. The 2014 Games will also be the first in its 44 year history to provide matching scholarships to one athlete from each of the nine geographic contingents within the 140 colleges and universities in the University of the Arctic consortium. When we look back after the Games conclude in Fairbanks, there will be many tangible legacy projects to remind us that we were the host of the Games in 2014. But one of the most lasting and important legacies for the community is now available to everyone; that is, to be a part of history by volunteering for the Games, donating to the Games, purchasing Games merchandise and clothing, attending pre-game community events and most of all, attending the Games. Get your game on, Fairbanks! — Jeff Jacobson, Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games Host Society President Chatter about the Games is all over social media, including Facebook and Twitter. IMAGE COURTESY 2014 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 ULU NEWS 3 Here come the Games! Volunteers, donations are our winning strategies By Danny Martin enous athletes from the north- We’re just really grateful to the out- ESPN X Games. [email protected] ern regions of the Scandinavian “It (the mobile app) also countries (Sweden, Finland and pouring of support, whether in-kind allows us to promote our results The 2014 Arctic Winter Norway). Yamal is a subject “ or by cash. The Fairbanks community live on our website and on our Games Host Society is steadily — similar to a state or province mobile app as well. So we’re gaining volunteers and close to — in the Russian Federation. has really stepped up to the plate and pretty proud of that,’’ she said. reaching its budget goals. Registration for volunteering done a good job of supporting the The AWG International Com- The international bien- can be done online at the AWG mittee and the chefs de mission, nial celebration of circumpolar website (www.awg2014.org). Games.” or executive directors, for the sports and culture is scheduled “We have had so many people nine delegations were in Fair- — Cherie Solie, AWG sponsorship manager for March 15-22, 2014, in Fair- interested in volunteering with banks on Oct. 17-18 for meet- banks. the Games, the goal now is to ings. The Host Society is seeking get all of those people registered with Fairbanks-area businesses the plate and done a good job of Topics, such as athletes and a total of 2,500 volunteers, as in our online system, a require- to help obtain the goal. supporting the Games.” coaches, participant transpor- there are scheduled to be 2,000 ment to volunteer during the “We’re hoping to capture those The AWG’s host society also tation and housing, to athletic athletes in 20 sports and cultur- Games,” said Ashley Johnston, businesses which have the abili- is working with a mobile appli- al events during the Games. volunteer manager. ty to donate $2,500 to $10,000,’’ cations developer to create a venues were among issues dis- The AWG features nine con- The host society, Solie said, Cherie Solie, AWG sponsorship mobile app for athletes and cussed during the meetings. tingents — Team Alaska; Team wants to have 2,500 volunteers manager, said. spectators to get information There also was an evening Greenland; Team Sapmi; Team in place by the end of 2013 so it Solie said the host society is on their mobile devices about gathering at Pioneer Park on Yamal; and Team Alberta North, can conduct training for them in confident of reaching the goal. events and schedules during the Oct. 17 for the international Team Yukon, Team Nunavut, January and February. “We’re just really grateful Games. committee and the chefs de mis- Team Nunavik-Quebec and The host society, as of Oct. 10, to the outpouring of support, CrowdTorch has worked with sion. Team Northwest Territories of is less than $200,000 short of whether in-kind or by cash,’’ major sporting events across Contact sports editor Danny Martin Canada. its budget goal of $1.2 million. she said. “The Fairbanks com- the United States, including at 459-7586 or follow him on Twitter: Team Sapmi consists of indig- There were meetings recently munity has really stepped up to the Kentucky Derby and the @newsminersports. 4 ULU NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 ULU NEWS 5 special. like you. Club 49 is our free loyalty NOT EVERYONE CAN BE ALASKAN. rewards program only for Alaskans. Members get exclusive benefits, like two free checked bags when traveling to or from Alaska. Join today and get more travel, more shipping, more fun. With Club 49, Alaskans get more. Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Cargo proudly welcome this year’s Arctic Winter Games to Fairbanks. alaskaair.com I CLUB 49 – OUR EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM FOR ALASKANS I 6 ULU NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 Online: Information about Raavee’s Locker Ravin’ about the Games is online at http://awg2014.org/raavees-locker By Scott McCrea Look out Nanook and Smokey Bear. There’s a new mascot in town, and he’s already taken flight. Raavee (pronounced RAH-vee) the raven is the official mascot for the 2014 Arctic Winter Games. And with the event less than six months away, he has already been flying his way around town, help- ing generate excitement for the Games. Raavee’s flight pattern has taken him beyond his home in Fairbanks. Back in April of this year, plush Raavee dolls were sent to more than 100 communities across the global north, representing areas that participants for the 2014 Games will be hailing from. Like a real raven, Raavee’s “task” was to scavenge tidbits from the various participating communities for use in a display and slide show dur- ing the Games.