Volunteers garner rave reviews at Arctic Winter Games

'People have their heart in it,' co-ordinator says of 2,500-plus Yellowknifers and others

As this week's Arctic Winter Games wind down in Yellowknife, about 2,500 volunteers are being praised for putting in hours of effort.

From sweeping floors and clearing ice, to keeping score and serving meals, organizers estimate that one in five adult Yellowknifers were involved in the circumpolar sporting event, which wraps up Saturday in the N.W.T. capital.

People have also come from across Canada and even abroad to help more than 2,000 athletes, their coaches, team staff and other visitors from nine teams representing some of the world's northern regions.

Volunteer co-ordinator Shena Shaw said volunteers receive a free red jacket for putting in a minimum 12 hours of work, but many people are choosing to do more.

"They're working really hard, and not necessarily the 12 hours and then they check out and go home," Shaw told CBC News.

"If there's something going on, I'm seeing volunteers stay to make sure a question is answered for the athlete, and what have you. So it's not just 'I'm here to stand here and wear my jacket.' People have their heart in it."

Volunteers did not get free tickets to sporting and cultural events. They had to pay to watch events like everyone else, Shaw said.

"With 2,500 volunteers, I'm sure you can understand that if all of them kind of just went in, we'd have no room left for paid ticket spectators," she said.

"At some of the smaller venues, and some of the venues themselves, they have glass walls. So volunteers who are working and on-shift they're able to kind of look in and see what's going on. So I don't think there's any lack of spectators at any of the events."

It's not too late for residents who haven't helped out with the games: Shaw said people are needed to take down beds at the athletes' villages — located at schools around Yellowknife — after the teams leave on Sunday.

Anyone who wants to help take down beds should go to the school of their choice by 9 a.m. Sunday.