The 2008 Polar Games have been postponed until the end of February because of cold weather, which would prevent the participation of rural schools at the event.

The Games are currently scheduled to take place from Feb. 29 to March 1 and were postponed because of a government travel ban for children if the weather is -30 C or colder.

"It's a really fun event for the Grades 5 and 6's and they would be disappointed if they didn't make it," said Dave Stockdale, the chairman of the Polar Games. "The kids really look forward to it, especially for the really small communities. The kids just have a ball."

This year will mark the 39th Polar Games, which is open to kids in Grade 5 and 6 throughout the whole territory. The Polar Games acts as a jamboree and draws about 100 rural kids come in to participate. If the Polar Games occurred without rural participation teams could lose as many as four kids.

The decision to postpone the Games was made on Tuesday around noon after a few cancellations had occurred earlier in the day by a few of the rural schools. There were 17 rural schools who could have attended had the weather been warmer.