Arctic Winter Games officials visit Inuvik, South Slave

The Arctic Winter Games International Committee was in Inuvik, N.W.T., Wednesday and is in the South Slave today, evaluating the communities' bids for the 2018 games.

The last time Hay River hosted the games was 1978, when it hosted jointly with the now-defunct mine town of Pine Point. Inuvik has never hosted the Arctic Winter Games.

Hay River and Fort Smith previously submitted ajointbid forthe 2008 Arctic Winter Games, which went to Yellowknife.

Greg Rowe, chair of the South Slave bid committee, said he hopes this time will be different.

"We want to send the International Committee off with the same enthusiasm as we bring them in and hope that they find our region and our community the best to host the games," he said.

Representatives will spend Thursday touring both Hay River and Fort Smith, looking at everything from the planned sleeping quarters for athletes to medical treatment to how healthy the food will be.

They'll also be looking for community spirit.Shelley Maher, who is helping to organize the day, said shehopes a pep rally this evening at the Hay River arena will show the International Committee how much support the games have in the community.

The 2016 Arctic Winter Gameswill be in Nuuk, Greenland.