The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics have been taking place in Fairbanks since 1961. The annual event features athletic events that demonstrate participants' strength, endurance, balance and agility, as well as dancing, storytelling and other events.
Members of the Kingikmiut Dancers and Singers march during the opening ceremony of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Chanda Simon, Miss World Eskimo-Indian Olympics 2014, waves to the crowd during opening ceremony of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Pauline Miles and Lolly Andrews, of the Acilquq Dance Group, perform during the opening night of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Eddie Arey, left, and James Lampe, both of Kaktovik, compete in the ear pull during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Friday, July 17, 2015. Arey won the event and Lampe placed second. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Vanessa Tahbone, of Nome, holds ice to her ear after placing second in the women's ear pull during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Friday, July 17, 2015. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Competition officials Michelle Strange, right, and Leroy Shangin, left, watch as Crystal Worl, from Juneau, competes in the women's bench reach during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Worl won the event. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Judges measure the height of the seal-skin ball before the start of the Alaskan high kick finals during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Thursday, July 16, 2015. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Forrest Strick competes in the One Foot High Kick preliminaries during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Saturday, July 19, 2014. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER
Casey Ferguson, left, of Chevak, hugs John Waska, of Newtok, after Waska finished his final kick and took second in the Alaskan high kick finals during the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics at the Carlson Center on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Ferguson won the event with a height of 94 inches. ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/NEWS-MINER