The Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture held for a week, each time with a different nation or region as the host.

The Games contributes to creating an awareness on cultural diversity, and develops athletes to participate in the competitions with the focus on fair play.

The dog sports a Whitehorse Arctic Winter Games 2012 shirt and, as is common in Huskies, has different coloured eyes (known as heterochromia).

Freestyle skiing was removed from the program, after its debut appearance at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.

Team sports held were basketball, indoor soccer, ice hockey, volleyball and curling.

The youth at the games passed on a song, was in effort to promoting heritage awareness and cultural diversity.

[7] The Hodgson trophy for fair play and team spirit is awarded at the end of every games.