True to tradition the whole of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq gathers to celebrate the annual Sports Day, and in 2026 it is Inussivik that forms the framework for this unforgettable day of celebration. The hall is beautifully decorated in the spirit of the party, with dimmed lights and a nicely decorated stage in the centre. Around the hall, athletes, coaches and volunteers sit together at long tables, where the cakes are sweet and the coffee steaming hot.
Joy is embraced and shared across the board, while the stands are overflowing with spectators who have come to witness the day’s celebration. In the corners of the hall, children’s laughter can be heard as they play and enjoy the lively atmosphere that only a sports hall can offer.
True to tradition the whole of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq gathers to celebrate the annual Sports Day, and in 2026 it is Inussivik that forms the framework for this unforgettable day of celebration. The hall is beautifully decorated in the spirit of the party, with dimmed lights and a nicely decorated stage in the centre. Around the hall, athletes, coaches and volunteers sit together at long tables, where the cakes are sweet and the coffee steaming hot.
Joy is embraced and shared across the board, while the stands are overflowing with spectators who have come to witness the day’s celebration. In the corners of the hall, children’s laughter can be heard as they play and enjoy the lively atmosphere that only a sports hall can offer.
A tribute to all
The atmosphere is electric, filled with warmth and community, and it quickly becomes clear that the Sports Day of the Year is not only about honoring the nominees for the prestigious sports awards. The day is a tribute to everyone who makes a difference on and off the pitch. Mayor Avaaraq Olsen emphasizes this in her opening speech, where she says:
– Let’s celebrate this year’s winners, but also everyone else.
With pride, she ends her speech with the words:
– Nuuk is really a sports town.
Sports enthusiast Laali Berthelsen, who this year is hosting Sports Day, describes the event as something very special – both professionally and personally.
– Sports Day has always been a big day for me, and I remember clearly how I always looked forward to it as a child. It is an exciting and festive event that brings the whole municipality together, says Laali Berthelsen with a smile.
The day, which celebrates both the prominent sports stars and the people who work behind the scenes, is not just a celebration of individual achievements. It is also a celebration of community.
– I know that it means a lot to both children, young people and adults to gather on a day like this. Across sports and generations. It strengthens the community and sends an important signal that here in Nuuk we strive to be a healthy and strong community, she explains.
Laali Berthelsen is therefore both happy and proud to host this festive day, which for her is a celebration of both joy and togetherness.
Talent of the year
During the day, six prestigious sports awards are handed out, and the first to be drawn is one of the very big ones: Talent of the Year. Laali Berthelsen reads out the nominees, and her words are both warm and full when she explains why these five performers have been selected from among the many nominees.
The tension rises when Poul Petersen from Demokraatit steps on stage to present the award. Everyone holds their breath and a moment of silence fills the room before the revelation comes. The winner is the young Taekwon-Do practitioner Angutinnguaq Nielsen.
– It is a wonderful feeling to be the talent of the year, Angutinguaq says humbly as he steps down from the stage and continues smiling.
– When my name was mentioned, I was really surprised. There are so many talented performers with great potential, so I didn’t expect to be on the podium at all, he explains, while a big smile spreads across his face.
The dreams for the future are big, and with this recognition as Talent of the Year, self-confidence has increased significantly.
– I want to win gold at the European Championships, says Angutinguaq with a firm and determined look.
His coach and father, Louis Nielsen, shares the dream – and sees it as a realistic possibility.
– It is a big, but completely realistic dream. We take it one step at a time. Angutinguaq is only 18, and that is a very young age in elite sport, so if it won’t be this year, then maybe later. But of course we will do our best for all the competitions to come, explains Louis Nielsen with a calm and optimistic smile.
Although Angutinguaq is already looking towards future goals, the day is about living in the present and enjoying the recognition that he and his family have worked so hard for. And the proud father cannot hide his joy.
– In my eyes, he was the right winner. It’s really well-deserved, and I’m incredibly proud that junior has come this far, says Louis Nielsen with a touched voice.
The heart of sport beats in Nuuk
Between the exciting prize-givings, SIGU & Rene Brandt keep the atmosphere up with music on stage, while the spectators help themselves to cake, coffee and fruit. Laali Berthelsen also gets the audience out of their chairs for a round of shared squats – because it is sports day, and a little activity is part of it.
The day offers several well-deserved awards, and among the other award recipients are Coach of the Year, which goes to the dedicated coaching team from NS-84, and Manager of the Year, which is awarded to Enok Petersen from Siggarta. The Team of the Year goes to Qeersaat – utoqqaat timersortartut (older sports), while the Encouragement Award is given to the committed volunteer Ane Marie Knudsen. Sportsperson of the year will be Maria Grødem, who has made a name for herself in Crossfit after she came second at the EC and third at the WC in Functional Fitness in 2025.
Each of these awards recognizes the individuals and groups who strive daily to reach sporting heights, strengthen sports in Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq and promote community through their dedication and efforts. This year’s Sports Day is thus not only a celebration of individual achievements, but also a tribute to the community and the dedication behind it. In every handshake, every high-five and every shared squat, there is a quiet but strong reminder of what makes the sports day in Nuuk so special. It is not just the individual victories, but the whole community that lifts us up. As the day goes on, filled with smiles and pride, one thing becomes clear. Sport is not just about today – it lives in the hearts of each and every one of us, and its light continues to shine far beyond the last awards ceremony.
