How polar geopolitics are creeping into the Arctic Winter Games

Athletes might be the stars of the show, but the Arctic Winter Games can't escape politics.

For example, the games kicked off with the flyover of a CF-18 fighter jet at the opening ceremony in Whitehorse Sunday. Military aircraft flying over sporting events is nothing new in much of the world, of course, but in the Canadian North, it's practically unheard of.

Zach Zimmermann, an Arctic security expert who grew up in Whitehorse (and who won a bronze medal in table tennis at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games), said it looks to him like Canada is sending a message.

"I would say what Canada's trying to demonstrate is that it has a military presence up here," he said. "I don't see how else you could really interpret that, that they're flying a fighter jet over a kids' sporting competition."

Politicians, strategists and experts have long talked about the need for Canada to boost its military capabilities North of 60. Canada plans to pump money into that infrastructure and local leaders across the North are already lobbying to get a piece of the action.

The games are taking place as the Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Rangers and troops from four NATO allies take part in Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, a sprawling set of military and "whole-of-government" exercises meant to give personnel experience working in Arctic conditions.

One patrol group is even in the middle of a 4,500-km snowmobile trek from the Yukon's north slope to Churchill, Man.

Meanwhile, diplomats are also descending on the Yukon capital during the games. Pete Hoekstra, the bombastic U.S. Ambassador to Canada, is in town to meet with the Yukon government and local business leaders.

And ambassadors from the five Nordic countries are also in town for a public session