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 Whitehorse on Wednesday for the two-week event, which will get 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 computer model projections go out to about nine days and this bitter cold Arctic air is going to be in the Whitehorse region through that period."

Games in North for 1st time

This is the first time the two-week Canada Winter Games have been held in the North.

Many of the sports are played indoors but some events, such as speed skating, are set to begin outside Saturday.

Canada Games general manager Chris Morrissey says they have alternative plans in 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 Week 1 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, a Yukon resident, said the provinces took turns hosting the Games every two years for its first 40 years, but this year, it has moved to 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 Games have meant that Whitehorse now has new sporting facilities, including the Canada Games Centre, a recreational complex that includes two 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.