(Fort McMurray, AB – November 16, 2022) – In recognition of the belief that good sport can make a great difference, the Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) Host Society has declared the 2023 Arctic Winter Games a True Sport event. This commitment means that the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion and fun are at the heart of this high-profile Circumpolar sport competition for northern and Arctic athletes.
Participants, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators are encouraged to bring the True Sport Principles to life through their actions, thereby making a statement about the kind of sport they want to be a part of.
“We are pleased to declare the Games a True Sport event and are fully committed to upholding all seven True Sport Principles,” said Nicole Clow, General Manager of AWG 2023. “Inclusion, respecting others and striving for excellence align with our mission, vision and values and we encourage everyone involved in the Games to embrace these principles to create an unforgettable experience for everyone.”
There are several ways that participants and spectators can experience True Sport and help bring it to life in the lead-up to and during the Games. The Host Society invites the community to join in and use the hashtag #TrueSportMoments to celebrate good sport and respectful competition. True Sport Principles banners will be hung at every Official Host Venue to raise awareness of the seven principles and serve as a reminder of the behaviour that is expected at sport competitions. Participants, technical officials and coaches will also take the True Sport oaths prior to the start of the Games.
“It is amazing to see AWG 2023’s commitment to True Sport. This intentional effort to embrace values-based sport through the True Sport Principles will contribute to building a positive culture at the Games which will translate into positive sport experiences and memories to last a lifetime,” said Karri Dawson, Executive Director of Values-Based Sport at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) – the network leader for values-based sport and champion of True Sport.
The Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture taking place in the Wood Buffalo region from January 29 – February 4, 2023. The Games will highlight the region and its culture through the spirit of sport to an international audience and visitors from around the world. The week-long event will see participants from our own backyard along with international circumpolar North regions during their Time to Shine.
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Media contact: communications@awg2023.org
About True Sport
True Sport is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), which is designed to give people, communities, and organizations the means to leverage the benefits of good sport, from a platform of shared values and principles. As a values-based sport network leader, the CCES believes that activating the True Sport Principles, on and off the field of play, will contribute to a positive shift in Canadian sport culture. Learn more at www.truesport.ca.
Media Contact: Megan Cumming, Manager, Corporate Communications, mcumming@cces.ca