The Yukon government is set to spend more than $2.6 million over the next year on events around the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

The spending, subject to approval in the legislature, was announced this morning at a news conference held at the Yukon Arts Centre.

"As we strive to make sure our economy remains strong, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss," Premier Dennis Fentie told the 50-plus people gathered in the centre's lobby.

Decked out in a bright blue Vancouver Olympics jacket, Fentie outlined the plans for the $2.6 million, citing youth programs, education initiatives, cultural events and the marketing of the territory to potential visitors.

"This investment will ensure that Yukon is able to take advantage of the enormous opportunities the Games represent, while at the same time showing our support for Canada's Games," he said before launching into a more detailed list of how the cash is planned to be spent.

Designed to let Yukoners "make the most" of the pre-Olympic opportunities, the territory would spend:

• $733,000 on marketing and media aimed both internationally and locally.

That includes a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission with high-definition commercials, still photography and other initiatives aimed at bringing visitors to the territory along with fam-tours and other initiatives;

• $520,000 for Canada's North events during the Olympics next year, which will see a three-day weekend focused on the three territories at B.C. Place during medal presentations. Yukon Day, which will focus on the territory, has been set for Feb. 20;

• $411,000 for youth and sport development, where youth ambassadors from the three territories will be selected to head to the Olympics as volunteers.

As Fentie noted, those youth will bring back the knowledge they gain to their home communities when the Olympics end. The cash will also go to education programs at Yukon schools and supporting sports officials and the Inuit and Dene Games that will be presented at the Olympics;

• $325,000 on first nation culture initiatives, where the territory will work with the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), which is partnering with the Four Host First Nations on the first nation component to create business, tourism, cultural and youth-related activities.

As CYFN Grand Chief Andy Carvill pointed out, the day after B.C. Place hosts Yukon Day, the aboriginal pavilion will focus on the territory.

Both initiatives, he said, will maximize benefits to all Yukoners. The funding from the territory brings the CYFN much closer to its goals for the Olympics, he said;

• $260,000 for the Cultural Olympiad in supporting artists heading to that.

Among the artists are Kim Beggs, the Yukon's snow carving team and the First People's Performers, who have already performed at the event which started Feb. 1 and will end March 21.

The Yukon's snow carving team is also set to be part of the cultural component and the First People's Performers from Carcross. The first nation dance group is set to leave for the We yah hani nah Coastal First Nations Dance Festival that's part of the cultural Olympiad at UBC Place;

• $173,000 for planning and support of the Olympics;

• $135,000 on investment promotion with the territory's northern partners; and

• $75,000 on the torch relay in the Yukon, which will see the Olympic torch relay come through Whitehorse, Dawson City and Old Crow next November.

The $2.6 million is an investment in the territory's present and future economy, Fentie said.

"As you can see, there is much we can do to celebrate Yukon at the 2010 Winter Olympics," he said.

The Games mark the first time indigenous people have been full partners in the Olympic process, Carvill noted, stating the CYFN is honoured by the partnership with the Four Host First Nations.

In noting the benefit the CYFN wants to bring to all Yukoners, Carvill also praised the First People's Performers, noting their commitment to culture and sharing Yukon first nations' story with the world.

Heading to the cultural Olympiad, Marilyn Jensen of the group said 18 dancers will be performing in the showcase.

"It's a real honour because there's 12 really incredible dance groups that are dancing there from B.C., Washington, Alaska and Yukon," she said. "They're all first nations and they're all very, very refined and accomplished at it."

Jensen said the group has put in hours of practice for its two performances. It wants to represent the territory in the best, "most dignified" way it can, she said.

The first nations dance festival runs at UBC until Sunday.