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Arctic Winter Games

image by Zoltan Horvath, 12 February 2014

Overview
The Arctic Winter Games Flag
2002 Iqaluit, Nunavut
2004 Wood Buffalo, Alberta
2006 Kenai, Alaska
2008 Yellowknife, NWT
2010 Grande Prairie, Alberta
2012 Whitehorse, Yukon
2014 Fairbanks, Alaska
2016 Nuuk, Greenland
2020 Whitehorse, Yukon

See also:

Overview

The Arctic Winter Games is a high profile circumpolar sport competition for northern and Arctic athletes. The Games provide an opportunity to strengthen sport development in the participants' jurisdictions, to promote the benefits of sport, to build partnerships, and to promote culture and values. The Games celebrate sport, social exchange and cultures. The Games provide an opportunity for the developing athlete to compete in friendly competition while sharing cultural values from northern regions around the world.
Zoltan Horvath, 12 February 2014

The Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and Aboriginal culture. It was an idea first envisioned when, in 1967, Cal Miller was in Quebec City for the first Canada Winter Games. As the financial
advisor to the Yukon team, (he) had just seen the more experienced southern athletes outplay his athletes from the North. It’s a sentiment shared by Stuart Hodgson, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, who watched his team participate also. Miller suggested creating their own games for the North. It would provide a forum where athletes from the “circumpolar North” could compete on their own terms, on their own turf. After some discussion and a few phone calls, Hodgson and Smith, as well as Canadian Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Arthur Laing, loved the idea. A phone call later and the Governor of Alaska Walter Hickel was on board.

The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon Commissioner James Smith, with the first event held in 1970.

In 1993, the name of the Arctic Winter Games Corporation was changed to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, AWGIC. The Arctic Winter Games logo was also changed at this time.
Esteban Reivera, 2 December 2017

The Arctic Winter Games Flag

Its flag is white with its logo.
Images of flag: http://www.arcticwintergames.org/slides/K.AWG2012-32611.jpg
http://www.arcticwintergames.org/slides/K.AWG2012-34764.jpg
Since the Arctic Winter Games was first held in 1970, the even's mission - to promote athletic competition, cultural exhibition and social interaction among Northerners - has always been symbolized by three interlocking rings. Over the years, the official logo has evolved to include a multi-coloured ribbon reminiscent of the Northern Lights or aurora borealis. Most recently, in 2003, the various elements of this logo were revised in order to remove design imperfections and simplify reproduction in all media. At the same time, the Northern Lights were "put back in the night" by the addition of a black background bordered by a white circle that represents the circumpolar world. Finally, the original image of the interlocking rings was re-introduced to the logo because of its strength.
Source: http://www.arcticwintergames.org/
Zoltan Horvath, 12 February 2014

There have been (at least) two previous logos (http://www.arcticwintergames.org/AWG_Logos.html), and (at least) one
previous flag, featuring the second logo (http://www.arcticwintergames.org/Graphics/AWGlogos/Old%20Logo/awgfull_1200_small.jpg), over a horizontal flag, divided into three vertical stripes: the middle stripe in white, a little bit bigger than the outer two, in blue, with the second logo in the middle. This former flag is seen here: http://www.arcticwintergames.org/Directors%20Photos/1994%20Directors.JPG (source: http://www.arcticwintergames.org/AWGIC_DIRECTORS.html). One can also see the former flag here (from 3:20 onwards): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uuotj1wa44 (video of the 1998 event).

image located by Esteban Rivera, 2 December 2017

The third and current logo (http://www.arcticwintergames.org/Graphic_standards_manual_files/image004.jpg), was, as mentioned by Zoltán Horvath, adopted ca. 2003.

"The Arctic Winter Games Official Logo contains four basic elements:
1. Three interlocking rings which symbolize athletic competition, cultural exhibition and social interaction among Circumpolar peoples;
2. An underlying ribbon which represents the Northern Lights or aurora borealis;
3. A black background which represents the night sky; and,
4. An all-encompassing white circle which symbolizes the circumpolar world.

Wherever possible, the official logo should be reproduced in full-colour. In order to reproduce the logo properly, the following colours must be used:
Purple: Pantone Purple The CMYK formula for this colour is: 40/90/0/0
Blue: PMS 300 The CMYK formula for this colour is: 100/45/0/0
Green: Pantone Green The CMYK formula for this colour is: 100/0/60/0
The pantone numbers are as follows.
Blue words/rings PMS 282.
Background blue of middle band PMS 295.
Pink on left side is PMS 245.
Green on right side is PMS 3272

In most applications, the official logo also incorporates the logotype “Arctic Winter Games” in the preferred format shown. The logotype should appear in black.

The minimum size for the official logo without logotype to be reproduced clearly is 0.5” x 0.5”. When the logo is reproduced with logotype, the 0.5” x 0.5” size standard still applies to the graphical component. The recommended size for the logo to be reproduced is at least 1” x 1”."
Source: Logo Guide, issued in January, 2015 (http://www.arcticwintergames.org/Graphics/AWGlogos/New%20Logo/AWG_logo_guide.pdf)

For further reference please refer to the "GRAPHICS STANDARDS GUIDE", summary of the above PDF document:
http://www.arcticwintergames.org/Graphic_standards_manual.html

A total of nine contingents currently participate in the Arctic Winter Games:
Alaska
Greenland
(Northern) Alberta
Northwest Territories
Nunavik (although the delegation flies the flag of Quebec
Nunavut
Saami
Yamal (although the delegation flies the flag of Russia
Yukon
Sources: http://www.arcticwintergames.org/About.htm and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Winter_Games
Esteban Rivera, 2 December 2017

The 2016 Arctic Winter Games were held in Nuuk, Greenland.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Arctic_Winter_Games

The flag is the logo (http://awg2016.org/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/awg_logo_new_0-itok=ij7w45ah.gif) (except the AWG logo below) over a white horizontal flag, as seen here (fifth flag from left to right): https://awg2018.org/sites/default/files/gallery/awg2016_vh_awgic_reception_7_march_355_0.jpg (source: https://awg2018.org/news/gallery)

"The AWG2016 logo represents three participants at the Games holding hands and raising each other up in unity. Other parts of the logo illustrate the sun shining over the mountains of Greenland, Sermitsiaq, the landmark of Nuuk, and the northern lights. The shape of the logo is dynamic, symbolizing the activities during the Arctic Winter Games."
Source: http://awg2016.org/en/content/logo-and-mascot.html

A vertical version, incorporating the full logo (http://awg2016.org/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/awg_logo_new_0-itok=ij7w45ah.gif) is seen here (at 0:009 onwards): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaVFeTgR66A

For additional information go to AWG2016 (official website): http://awg2016.org/
Esteban Rivera, 2 December 2017

2020 Whitehorse, Yukon

On Jun 14, 2017, an agreement was signed for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games to be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
Photo of signing ceremony: https://www.facebook.com.
Dave Fowler, 2 December 2017