Arctic Winter Games expected to cost around $9.5M | CBC News
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The Arctic Winter Games, scheduled to begin in Whitehorse on Sunday, are estimated to cost $9.5 million — and organizers say it’s worth it.
Tracey Bilsky, president of the games host society, said that money pays for venues, transportation for athletes, and food.
It also covers improvements to facilities, staff salaries, office space and sport equipment, she said.
The money for the event, which is expected to bring an estimated 2,000 participants to the city, comes primarily from government with some private donations. About $4 million is from the Yukon government, with the federal government giving about $2.6 million, and the rest coming from the city and private donations.
The games are expected to bring in $9.9 million in tourism revenue, organizers say. That’s based on a projection from 2020, the last time the games were scheduled to be held in Whitehorse.
The budget for the 2020 games was about $8 million. However, that event was cancelled days before the opening ceremonies because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bilsky said the high cost is worth it if the games generate economic activity.
“It’s about $9.9 million in total in economic activity across the Yukon that’s projected through the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance model projections from 2020, and we hope that number’s even bigger for us.”
The true economic effect can only be tallied up after the closing ceremonies on March 14.
Local businesses are gearing up for the arrival of the athletes and spectators.
Mary Jane Warshawski, owner of Coast Mountain Sports and Sports Experts in downtown Whitehorse, said she was looking forward to being busy.
“One of the things is that we will be open extended hours because we know the athletes are busy so we have to be there … for when the kids, adults and parents are available,” Warshawski said.
Bilsky said the games are about more than just money, they’re about cultural pride.
“These opportunities only come every one or two decades,” she said.
“We’re able to show who we are, and our motto, ‘what we’re made of.’ It’s important for us to support sports like this, to unite people like this, and it’s worth the money.”