To survive the almost sunless winters staff from nearby international research stations gather regularly in the gym at the Chilean Antarctic base to hold their own Olympics.

Not surprisingly the Chinese always win at table tennis. The Brazilians routinely triumph at indoor football by double-digit scores - although in the last contest one of their players broke his leg.

The event underscores the spirit of cooperation that now prevails among the international bases on King George Island, even though they lie on territory claimed by Britain, Chile and Argentina.

“For us, it’s Chilean. For the Brits, it’s British. For the Argentines, it’s Argentine,” said Gino Casassa, a Chilean scientist and member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “But it’s affected by the Antarctica Treaty, so it’s international land.

“As a Chilean, I would defend my country’s interests. But as a scientist, I would say this is a wonderful example of how people can come together dedicated to science and peace – which is not exactly what is happening in the Arctic,” he said.

John Shears, head of environment at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), based in Cambridge, said that British scientists work well with their Chilean and Argentine counterparts despite the countries’ rival territorial claims. “When you are in the Antarctic there is a real sense of camaraderie in what you do. Everyone tries to help each other out,” Dr Shears said.

A team of Chilean glaciologists will soon work at the British Rothera base, and the BAS hosted Argentine scientists last year in Cambridge.

Britain also offered help with resupply when the Argentine ice-breaker, Almirante Irizán, was damaged by fire – although the Argentinians politely declined the offer and chartered a Russian vessel instead.

Some examples of cooperation are even more extreme. After the 1973 coup in Chile, the Frei base found itself without resupply. The Soviet Union’s neighbouring Bellingshausen camp helped out with provisions. The Chileans returned the favour when the Soviet Union collapsed and the Russians found themselves without supplies.

Daniel Alarcón, a military doctor on a two-year assignment at the Frei base with his wife, Teresa, says that he sometimes socialises with his fellow medics from the South Korean and Uruguayan stations, who visit the Frei base by tracked Sno-Cat or Zodiac boat. But Antarctic cooperation has its limits. Felipe Jorguera, 17, the son of the Chilean base commander, likes to play racketball, but it is not a popular sport on the icy continent and he struggles to find a worthy opponent. Dating is also a problem. He adds ruefully: “I’m by myself. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

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