A new partnership among the Yukon government, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society is trying to prepare local businesses to take full advantage of the influx of people and revenue coming to the area with the sporting event.

'One has to take advantage of the opportunities as they arrive. Any good small business owner in the territory has got their eyes open and takes advantage of what comes along,' Piers McDonald, the society's president, told a news conference Tuesday.

'Whether you're big or small, this is a big event and there's lots of potential.'

The new initiative, Raising Our Game, will focus on keeping Yukon businesses informed about opportunities arising from the Games.

It will also include a winter beautification initiative and an employee recognition program aimed at improving the standards of service in Whitehorse during the expected influx of competitors and visitors.

'What gives this program such strong legs is the recognition that sports activities, business and events can be strong economic drivers,' said Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon.

'If Yukon businesses do well, we will, of course, see the spin-off effects of the flowing to our communities.'

The program's launch will help ensure that Whitehorse has the capacity to welcome all the expected visitors, and businesses aren't overwhelmed by it, added Kenyon.

'We think it's critical that the business community understand the opportunities available to them with the Games,' said Donna Mercier, the chamber of commerce chair. 'We hope to be able to answer a lot of the questions they may have.'

Part of Raising Our Game's goal is to ensure that businesses understand the Games well enough to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities, but at the same time aren't unrealistic about the potential, said McDonald.

'We want to identify those opportunities in a sophisticated way as we can, so business can take advantage of the opportunity that arises,' he said.

Retail businesses 'off the beaten track' shouldn't necessarily accept there will enough excitement with the Games that they will experience a huge influx of sales, he added.

'In a number of places, the nature or the character of the traveller who typically comes to the Games is not interested in buying (certain) types of goods,' said McDonald.

'You have to understand what the nature of the event is all about and who comes and what they're planning to do when they do come.'

Restaurants and hotels will likely be target businesses for the visitors, he said.

Lines at food service facilities and booked-up accommodation mean there are opportunities for people to seek out business opportunities in providing additional services and sleep space, he added.

The chamber of commerce will be hosting workshops and luncheons as the Games near to provide the business community with help and advice on how to target the potential customers, who will include athletes, team delegations, media, officials and volunteers.

Raising Our Game is also hoped to be used as a way to come to a better understanding of the effects of sporting events on the territory's economy to be able to use it as a lesson for the future, said McDonald.

With the building of the new sporting facilities, McDonald said, he is confident that Whitehorse has the ability to host other sporting events, including championships and training camps.