With just four months to go until the 2007 Canada Winter Games kick off in Whitehorse, staff are working furiously to fulfill both the volunteer and sponsorship needs.

The number of volunteers signed up currently sits around 2,000, with approximately 4,000 needed in order to make the event a success. On the sponsorship side, things are coming along quite nicely, with just $1 million to go before the host society reaches their overall goal.

That's thanks in part to Monday's announcement by Whitehorse Beverages.

The local Coca-Cola product distributor, wholly owned by Tle'Nax T'awei Limited Partnership (TTLP), the business arm of the Teslin Tlingit First Nation, becomes a Diamond Level sponsor with their contribution of cash and product totaling $100,000.

As part of their contribution, Whitehorse Beverages will be the exclusive provider of soft drinks to the VIP lounges, volunteer lounges, mission staff and various host society functions leading up to the Games.

Whitehorse Beverages will also provide dispensers and product at the Athletes Village for the 3,500 athletes, coaches and managers.

'We are thrilled to have a relationship with a reputable national brand such as Coca-Cola and an incredibly strong and active community supporter such as Whitehorse Beverages,' said Paul Flaherty, vice-president of the 2007 Canada Winter Games sponsorship division.

'We are also very proud to embark on a partnership with an entrepreneurial and progressive first nation organization such as Tle'Nax Tawei Limited Partnership.'

President of the TTLP, Richard Sidney, said the group is very excited and proud of their involvement with the Games.

'We strongly believe in supporting an event of this magnitude with such immense positive legacies for our Yukon,' said Sidney. 'We are very pleased to demonstrate our commitment to this event through our Whitehorse Beverages/Coca-Cola division.

'We hope that our contribution will enhance the host society's abilities to present a top notch event, and showcase to the rest of Canada how dynamic and special, our northern lands and peoples are. Gunalcheesh.'

Sidney added TTLP also has a special contribution they can make in terms of the cultural portion of the Games, including the Teslin Tlingit Dancers.