FAIRBANKS – The 2014 Arctic Winter Games wrapped up with one final party Saturday night.

Once again, the participating athletes filed into the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, but this time they entered as one contingent, rather than individual jurisdictions.

Many athletes traded gear including jackets and snowpants prior to the closing ceremonies, providing a kaleidoscope of colours for those taking the event in from the stands.

Music and revelry once again filled the arena air, while the torch was extinguished to conclude the Games.

Team Greenland took home one of the tournament's most-coveted awards – the Hodgson Trophy. The trophy goes to the contingent which best exemplifies the ideals of fair play and team spirit, as voted by the media.

Greenland's capital city, Nuuk, will host the next tournament in 2016.

Nuuk mayor Asii Chemnitz Narup addressed the crowd after receiving the ceremonial Arctic Winter Games flag.

"Thank you for the hospitality and kindness we have received this week,” she said. "It has been an amazing Arctic Winter Games. Thank you to all of you athletes for your hard work, fair play and teamwork. We have made new friendships across the circumpolar region this week.

"See you in Nuuk 2016.”

There, athletes can expect a true cultural experience in an area where English is the third language spoken, behind both Greenlandic and Danish.

However, the 2016 tournament will feature a smaller group of athletes, as six sports cannot be hosted due to a lack of ice facilities.

Midget hockey, dog mushing, curling, speedskating, figure skating and gymnastics have each been excluded from the next Games. However, governments from Canada's three territories and Alaska have committed to finding an alternate multi-sport venue for the eliminated sports.

At the closing ceremonies, Yukon junior female basketball player Quynh Nguyen was one of nine athletes to take home a $500 scholarship courtesy of the host society. The funds were proceeds from Arctic Winter Games merchandise sold during the tournament.