Arctic Winter Games disputes Premier Smith’s claims about COVID vaccine policy

The president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee is disputing Premier Danielle Smith’s claim that the games rescinded their COVID-19 vaccination policy following a conversation with the province.

John Rodda says the decision to revoke the mandatory COVID-19 rule was not contingent on any phone calls with Smith’s office, as the premier claimed.

In fact, Rodda says he isn’t aware of any such phone calls even taking place.

“We followed international health advisements, Canadian and U.S. health officials. We worked with Canada Games Council,” said Rodda. “Basically to ensure lifting the vaccination policy conformed to all concerns. That’s how it was rescinded.

“It’s about the health and safety of the athletes. Nobody wants to jeopardize them. But everybody felt like we’re OK with this now. We’re still going to be cautious.”

The vaccine policy was rescinded Nov. 18.

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Earlier this week Premier Smith suggested her government had previously spoken to officials at the Arctic Winter Games about their mandatory vaccine policy.

“For instance, the Arctic Winter Games wanted $1.2 million from us to support their effort, and they were discriminating against the athletes, telling them they had to be vaccinated,” Smith told reporters on Monday. “So we asked them if they would reconsider their vaccination policy in the light of new evidence, and they did, and I was pleased to see that.”

Rodda says that simply is not accurate.

“It was not based on a phone call. It was not based on conditional funding,” he said.

“There were no mandates coming from any government that affected our decision.”

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Rodda says the premier even got the funding information wrong. He says the funds were already approved at least two years ago.

“Not to take away from the premier’s role in all that, but the actuality is that it was 1.8 million that was formerly approved and funded by what was then called Alberta Sport Connection before they dissolved. That funding was already identified and sent to the host society in 2019 or 2020.”

The Arctic Winter Games open Jan. 29 in Wood Buffalo.

“Here we are two years later – almost three – and people are really excited,” said Rodda.

—With files from Carly Robinson