More than 2,000 athletes and coaches from as far away as Russia and Scandinavia are in Grande Prairie this week for the 21st annual Arctic Winter Games.

Edmont Journal reports, the international Games give athletes from circumpolar countries a chance to compete in sports such as alpine skiing, speed skating, snowshoeing and dog mushing.

Team Alberta North brought 350 athletes who competed in 20 sports and represented 40 communities north of the 55th parallel.

The next Games will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2012.