World Eskimo-Indian Olympics

The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO) is a four-day summer event in Fairbanks, Alaska, founded in 1961 in which Alaska Native athletes compete in traditional games such as the high kick and the blanket toss.[1]

Origins

The games were first called the World Eskimo Olympics. Wien Air Alaska pilots Bill English and Tom Richards Sr. watched traditional activities in outlying villages and wanted wider audiences to see them. Employees A. E. “Bud” Hagberg and Frank Whaley are credited as founders. The city of Fairbanks, the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and Wien Air Alaska backed the first event, and the airline flew athletes in from villages.[1]

Events

The first event featured four Eskimo and two Indian dance groups and competitions in the high kick, blanket toss and seal skinning. Today the events include the blanket toss, one-foot and two-foot high kicks, knuckle hop, four-man carry, Indian stick pull, ear pull, Eskimo stick pull, arm pull and greased pole walk. Athletes must be at least 12 and the only division is gender.[1]

Founding and organization

The games began in 1961 as the World Eskimo Olympics and were renamed the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in 1970. Headquartered in Fairbanks, they were held in Anchorage only in 2007. They started under the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, passed to the Tundra Times newspaper in 1970, and became a nonprofit about six years later [2].

Purpose and dates

The annual multi-sport event aims to preserve cultural practices and traditional survival skills of circumpolar peoples. It runs four days starting the third Wednesday of July, and the 2020 games were canceled because of COVID-19 [2].

Athletes and events

Inuit, Inupiat, Yupik, and other Native American athletes compete, and women were added to events after the first decade. Events include the blanket toss (Nalukataq), one-foot and Alaskan high kicks, ear pull, and knuckle hop, also called seal hop, plus the four-man carry, greased pole walk, and muktuk eating [2].

Cultural elements

The games also feature dance and storytelling competitions and the Miss WEIO cultural pageant [2].

FAQs

When did WEIO begin? 1961.

Where is it held? Fairbanks, Alaska.

Who competes? Alaska Native athletes from across the state and beyond.

When did the games begin? In 1961, as the World Eskimo Olympics [2].

What is the blanket toss? A traditional event called Nalukataq, listed among the games [2].

Sources

1. Smithsonian Magazine: For 60 years Indigenous Alaskans have hosted their own Olympics
2. Wikipedia: World Eskimo Indian Olympics

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue