Bunk beds for sale, after the Arctic Winter Games non-event - Action News
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Bunk beds for sale, after the Arctic Winter Games non-event

It's like cleaning up after a party but without the lingering buzz of a good time. The Arctic Winter Games host society in Whitehorse is cleaning up and selling off some unused goods.

Staff of 2020 host society in Whitehorse clean things up after event cancelled

Some blue jackets hang on a rack in a big room.
2020 Arctic Winter Games volunteer jackets in Whitehorse. The jackets are still being distributed this week, and people are being encouraged to wear them next week even though the games aren't happening. (Juanita Taylor/CBC)

It's like cleaning up after a party but without the lingering buzz of a good time.

"We're doing it two weeks early," said Moira Lassen, general managerof the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorseon Wednesday, surrounded by unused goods and paraphernalia.

Decommissioning the games essentially dismantling all the infrastructure and liquidating extra supplies was supposed to happen after the big event wrapped next week. It's happening now because officials pulled the plug on the games a few days ago.

"We have a whole bunch of bunk beds for sale," Lassen said.

"We're going to send off some of the gifts that the teams were going to get, but those are going at their expense they're going to pay for the shipping."

Moira Lassen, general manager of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games, said it's beena 'roller-coaster of feelings' since the games were cancelled on Saturday. (Juanita Taylor/CBC)

Racks of volunteer jackets hung on rackswaiting to be claimed, as games officials are urging volunteers to wear them next week anyway.

The Dch'wmascot costumehung lifelessin a corner.

Most of the ulu medals will be melted down, Lassen said. Some will go to the Arctic Winter Games' international committee.

"So they will put some into archives, because they do have the little 50th [anniversary] logo on it. So it was really like a special medal," Lassen said.

Other games' supplieswill be sold off at a garage sale.

"We will sell everything as best we can," Lassen said.

Most of the unclaimed ulu medals will be melted down, say organizers. (Juanita Taylor/CBC)

Lindsay Smith, a staff member with the games' host society, said it's been difficult to adjust to the cancellation. She said staff worked long hours to prepare for what turned out to be a non-event.

"You know, everything, your whole entire focus has just been on that," Smith said.

"It's all building up to the culmination of the games, so to not have that is really hard."

Lassen agreesthat it's beena "roller-coaster of feelings" since the games were cancelled over the weekend. She knows it was the responsible thing to do and doesn't feel like everything was a waste.

"We have been on a journey of the Arctic Winter Games staff and volunteers and as well as athletes and that is not wasted time. That was an important journey for all of us to go on," she said.

"And here we are still on it, just in a different direction."

Written by Paul Tukker, with files from Juanita Taylor