The Arctics is a never seen look at the history and impacts of the Arctic Winter Games, an international biennial multi sport games that has been celebrating circumpolar sport and culture in the North since 1970. This short documentary follows the stories of characters from across the nine contingents that make up the international competition as they prepare to partake in the 2020 Arctic Winter Games which mark 50 years since first opening in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Lea-Christine Sara at the team Sapmi cross-country ski training week in Ylläs, Finland. Whitehorse 2020 will be Lea-Christine’s first time attending Arctic Winter Games as well as her first trip outside of Europe. Team NWT alumni and retired NHL player Jordin Tootoo credits his experience at the Arctic Winter Games in 1996 in Eagle River as a highly influential point in the development of his hockey career. Veronica MacDonald, with Team NWT, an experienced Arctic Sports athlete and Junior Women’s world record holder in Kneel jump, shows off her Arctic Winter Games medal collection. © Midnight Light Media Inc. (4) First-time Arctic Winter Games athlete for Team Yukon, Eva Nielsen snuggles her favourite sled dog Suzie. Eva is competing in dog mushing.
From first-time athletes in the Sapmi region of Norway to the experienced sledge jumpers of Yamal Russia to the Arctic Winter Games alumni of Nunavut who’ve gone on to become professional athletes, and the coaches who’ve made all the difference along the way, The Arctics will look at the spirit of sport across the North and its power to inspire, transform and elevate.
Visit www.midnightlight.ca/thearctics for more info.