Bitter cold marks opening of Canada Winter Games

Bone-chilling temperatures and a nasty north wind greeted several thousand athletes and visitors to the Yukon's capital for the start Friday of the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Planeloads of people began arriving in Whitehorseon Wednesday for the two-week event, which willget underway with opening ceremonies Friday afternoon.

But they better bundle up, because Environment Canada's David Jones says there is no break in sight. The temperature in Whitehorse is in the 40 C range, with the wind chill.

"Not till the end of time, and I guess we're sort of praying for the end of time at this point," Jones said Thursday.

"The longest range computermodel projections go out to about nine days and this bitter cold Arctic air is going to be in the Whitehorse region through that period."

Gamesin North for 1st time

This is the first time the two-week Canada Winter Games havebeen heldin the North.

Many of the sportsare played indoorsbut some events, such as speed skating, are set to begin outside Saturday.

Canada Games general manager Chris Morrissey saysthey have alternative plansin case it's too cold to compete.

"It varies by different sports, on cancellations and postponements, but it really is up to the national sport governing body," Morrissey said.

"We've put some of the outdoor events in Week1 purposely so that if we have problems with weather they could stay for Week 2."

Special warming huts and extra heaters are also being installed at all the outdoor venues, he said.

Host city bursts with pride

Despite the cold, Whitehorse is thrilled to be able to host the games, said Piers McDonald, president of the Canada Winter Games Host Society.

"I can tell you [that] it's a long-standing ambition of the North to be able to host the premiere amateur sporting event of the country," McDonald told CBC News.

"We've had hundreds of people over many years work very hard to see this event happen. It's a pretty exciting time to have thousands of volunteers from Whitehorse and across the North ready to launch today."

McDonald, aYukon resident,said the provinces took turns hosting the Games every two years for its first 40 years, but this year,it has movedto the northern territories. The games began in 1967.

"To finally get the event after more than 40 years is a major accomplishment and a sign of coming of age for the North and the Canada Games movement," he said.

"To be able to host the Games, obviously, is a great honour for us."

The Gameshave meant thatWhitehorse now has new sportingfacilities, including the Canada Games Centre, a recreational complexthat includestwo hockey arenas.

"Any community of our size would give its eye teeth to be able to host a national event of this stature," he added.