On Wednesday, at the Arctic Winter Games headquarters, MP Larry Bagnell, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced a contribution of $1.5 million over two years (2018-19, 2019-2020) for the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games through Sport Canada's Hosting Program.

"Our government is proud to support the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games, which provide Indigenous and Northern peoples opportunities for competition and cultural experiences while helping develop Northern and Indigenous sport and leadership, and inspiring our youth to get active. They will bring economic, social and cultural benefits for the entire Whitehorse region," said Duncan in a Heritage Canada release.

Introduced by Whitehorse Olympian and 2020 AWG ambassador, Jeanie Lassen, Bagnell stepped to the podium to speak to the Host Society.

"It's great to be home today to make an announcement on behalf of Kirsty Duncan," said Bagnell to the audience. "… Hosting an international multi-sport event requires many elements; strong partnerships, an engaged community, a dedicated Host Society and of course financial support, all of which you are providing here in great amounts.

"The government is the largest single investor in the Canada sports system which includes helping communities host Games like these."

Moira Lassen, General Manager of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games, said in the release that without the government's backing the Games would not be possible.

"The Arctic Winter Games are about more than just sport and competition. They are about investing in Northern youth and inspiring members of our communities through culture, inclusion and togetherness. Organizing a multipart Games North of 60 involves a lot of hard work, as well as important partnerships, and Whitehorse 2020 wouldn't be possible without this contribution from the Government of Canada."

Bagnell went into some detail about what the funds would be used to provide.

"The funds will help provide new equipment and supplies to local sports organizations, support programs for junior coaches and officials, and encourage athlete development."

The Games were established in 1970 and the 2020 Arctic Winter Games mark the 25th edition of the AWG and since they are held every two years, will mark the 50th anniversary.

"This contribution has been in the making for a while," said Bagnell. "Recently we added to it, to the amount I just said ($1.5 million) to provide funds for a really good opening ceremony and also the 50th-anniversary celebration."

The AWG is the largest and most important multisport event in the circumpolar North, with approximately 1,800 athletes coming from across the region including five Canadian jurisdictions (Yukon, N.W.T., Northern Alberta, Nunavut, and Nunavik, Quebec.)

As well, there will be delegations from Alaska, Yamal (Russia), Greenland; and, the Sami region (Finland, Sweden and Norway).

Accompanying the athletes to Whitehorse will also be parents, coaches, fans and Bagnell mentioned the economic impact the Games will have on the city and how pleased it will make Mayor Dan Curtis.

Curtis, accompanied by Minister of Community Services, John Streicker, was the next to speak.

"Our MP did mention the financial punch in the arm, if you will, the uppercut, that it is for our economy," said Curtis. "Recently we had the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) here and that was over $3 million dollars into our community.

"It can't be overstated how much of a resource and a benefit, not just to the youth and the children, to showcase their talents and build their esteem. There is really going to be a showcase, and I think that's amazing, in terms of the arts and culture and the customs that we have."

The Canadian Sport Tourism Association provided the formula to calculate economic impact to come to the $3 million figure of monies spent in the community during the NAHC.

Streicker said he and Curtis appeared at the podium together to represent the partnership between the level of governments and said he knows Whitehorse and the Yukon will put on amazing Games.

"All of this energy that comes to us from the citizens of the Yukon, we will be proud, proud hosts and I know we will get a ton of volunteers, I know we will have a great set of Games," said Streicker. "I would just like to say thank you to the federal government for recognizing that and stepping up.

"By the way, because we had the prime minister here for the first Arctic Winter Games, I hope we will invite the prime minister to be here for the 50th Arctic Winter Games."

The first Arctic Winter Games in 1970 were held in Yellowknife and attended by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

George Arcand, president of the Host Society, was the last to speak and thanked the government of Canada for supporting the 2020 Arctic Winter Games.

After the formalities at the podium, a scrum was held and more details were given on where the $1.5 million will be used since Whitehorse already has the Canada Games Centre and further infrastructure.

"Lotteries as an example is buying a lot of equipment required by the 21 sports," said Arcand. "The Yukon has not put a limit on what we spend the money on, it's open. The city has come in with some cash but most of theirs will be their staff, their facilities, someone has to manage that."

Food, beds, transportation were all mentioned.

"You can go on and on about the things that are required to make the games work," said Arcand. "The beds well…"

"There was a saga around the beds," said Streicker. "They were working to get the beds then they secured the beds. You look to buy them from the last set of Games. Then we were dealing with the transportation of the beds and the storage of the beds.

"There is a lot of work to try and keep our costs as low as possible and stretch that money as far as it will go."

The athletes will be sleeping in the schools around Whitehorse as the Games fall during the March break.

Of the $1.5 million, $250,000 will be used for the opening ceremonies and the 50th-anniversary celebration. The balance will be used for general revenue on whatever expenses.

"There is no must spend on anything," said Arcand.

"Every contribution agreement whether it comes from the territorial government or the federal government there will always be a set of accounting on how the money is spent," said Streicker.

"For the in kind for the city of Whitehorse, someone has to pay for that, it's not free," said Curtis. "We budget a financial cost to it and pay for it. The taxpayer is actually paying for a portion of the Games through the contribution of in kind. So everything is accounted for down to the dime."

The 2020 Arctic Winter Games will be held from March 15-21. The athletic competition features modern sports alongside traditional Arctic (Inuit and Northern) sports and Dene Games.

The cultural component features galas, visual arts, dance and ceremonies from artists across the circumpolar regions.

For the first time in Arctic Winter Games history and in recognition of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the 2020 AWG Host Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with local First Nations on April 6.

The MOU provides for the celebration of local First Nations, and their involvement in the planning and delivery of the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games.