Attention all Whitehorse residents and businesses: if you thought the fun and games would be over after 2007, think again.

While the sheer size of the Canada Winter Games, in terms of the number of athletes, coaches and volunteers involved, will certainly be hard to beat, the events Yukon is poised to host beyond 2007 are going to be even bigger on the international scale.

We're just getting started.

'We're very much a sport destination now,' stated Jenn Houtby, marketing director of the Yukon Convention Bureau (YCB). 'People are excited to come here. It's the myth of Canada and the lure of the North.'

On Thursday, the International Softball Federation (ISF) announced the 2008 junior men's world fastball championships will be held in Whitehorse, June 21-29. That means anywhere between 200 and 300 athletes and coaches descending on the territory from countries around the globe.

This will be the third junior men's world championships hosted in Canada. The first was in 1997 in St. John's, Nfld., and the second in 2005 in Summerside, P.E.I., where Canada won the bronze medal on both occasions.

'We are delighted to have been awarded these championships again,' stated Softball Canada CEO Hugh Mitchener.

'Kevin Quinn, president of Softball Canada, Mark Smith, head coach of our senior men's team, and myself visited Whitehorse earlier this year and were very impressed with Softball Yukon's plan for hosting the event, and with the Pepsi Softball Centre, where the games will be played.'

Some examples of elite softball countries which field teams in the junior world championships are Japan, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Italy, China, Colombia, Canada and the United States.

'Oh wow,' said Softball Yukon president Rob Andison, asked about his initial reaction to the news. 'I was just thoroughly thrilled. I just went wild.

'It shows Softball Yukon is doing something right, and our facilities are second to none in the country.'

Softball Yukon submitted a joint bid to host the junior worlds with YCB at the beginning of July, after about six months of previous work and research into the idea. Houtby and Softball Yukon Executive Director George Arcand gave a presentation to Softball Canada in Toronto earlier in the summer.

Houtby said the championship bid was really 'George's baby' and YCB just helped it come to fruition.

'George is such an awesome Yukon ambassador,' said Houtby. 'Softball Canada just loves him and Softball Yukon is very well respected on the national scene, so there were really no qualms about us hosting a major event and doing a great job with it.

'It speaks volumes about George's leadership and commitment to Softball Yukon, and Yukon in general.'

Arcand is out of town and was not available for comment this morning.

Houtby estimated the direct economic impact on the territory to be in the range of $200,000, since the athletes and coaches will be in Whitehorse for at least the six days of the tournament, if not longer.

That number, however, doesn't include the potential exposure worldwide for the territory.

'I would bet we have at least 10 per cent (of the visitors) returning for a vacation in the next several years,' stated Andison. 'Whitehorse is a world-class destination.'

Andison added hosting the junior worlds will have a definite impact on Yukon's minor softball program, as well as redefine the interest in men's and women's fastball.

'Softball Yukon will be thrilled to treat these athletes to some great Yukon hospitality, as well as treating the people of the Yukon to some great softball.'

Andison said the highest calibre of fastball he's ever witnessed was the junior national championships in Saskatoon last year. While that was great action, he emphasized the 2008 junior worlds will be a large step up even from that.

'It's going to be huge.'

Of course, hosting a huge event takes a huge amount of work some of which will get underway immediately. But with people tied up in the Canada Games over the next six months, Andison said the majority of the work won't start happening until next summer.

'There are so many steps now. (The Pepsi Softball Centre) is pretty much up to snuff. We'll probably do some minor repairs and upgrades.'

Andison said he's already had several people come up to him and offer their services as a volunteer, as word of the championships has started to leak out.

He also expects Arcand and himself will be making at least one trip to a national or international event prior to 2008, so they can get a feel for how it works.

It was already announced earlier this year that Whitehorse will be hosting the slo-pitch coed national championships and the masters men's national championships, August 2-5, 2007.

And Softball Canada will be holding their annual general meeting in Whitehorse in November of 2007. This all comes on the heels of the western Canadian masters men's fastball championships, which were held at the Pepsi Softball Centre last month.

'This is a great opportunity for Yukon to showcase our ability to host summer sporting events,' said Houtby, adding 2008 will be another huge year for the territory.

The 2008 junior world weightlifting championships are already slated for Whitehorse in May of that year. That event is expected to attract 800 athletes, coaches and officials from 100 countries.

'(2008) is huge, not only for sport, but also for some of the major conventions we're hosting,' said Houtby. 'The Western Canadian Music Awards are here that year as well, and the Occupational Therapists Association (AGM).

'It's going to be a phenomenal year and right on the heels of the Canada Games. I'm extremely excited.'