GRISE FIORD - It might be a little early to start booking plane tickets just yet, but excitement is building around the idea that Grise Fiord could be the point of entry into Canada for the Olympic torch in 2010.

The 2010 Winter Olympics' inuksuk logo is unveiled in Vancouver in this undated file photo. Grise Fiord is in the running to be the entry point for the Olympic torch from Greece into Canada. - photo courtesy of Vancouver2010

Officials from Nunavut Tourism met with organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver recently and both sides say Canada's Northernmost community is a real contender to make the list of communities to host the torch during the run-up to the games.

"The marketing potential is incredible," said Nunavut Tourism marketing officer Jillian Dickens.

Grise Fiord's assistant senior administrative officer Marty Kuluguqtuq said the hamlet of 150 would welcome the likely throng of athletes, dignitaries, officials and media with open arms.

"I hope there are lots of people who come and visit us," he said.

Kuluguqtuq said the hamlet has 40 homes and the local hotel has 25 rooms.

Dickens said Nunavut Tourism, the territorial government and the regional Inuit organizations will be forming a group to capitalize on the 2010 Olympics, which features an inuksuk as its logo.

Jim Richards, director of the torch relay for the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), said the idea to bring the Olympic torch into Canada through the North came from Games chief executive officer John Furlong.

"He thought how poetic it would be with the torch lighting up the North, entering Canada through the North and I think there's a lot of merit to that idea," Richards said.

He's quick to point out, though, that nothing is certain yet.

Beyond the logistics of flying dozens, if not hundreds of people into Grise Fiord's round-the-clock darkness in the middle of winter are the logistics of planning a torch relay that will visit every province and territory.

Nevertheless, Richards said Grise Fiord is "very viable" as a stop on the torch relay.

"It has a particular set of attributes that no other community has," he said. "So from that standpoint it's getting like five gold stars."

Organizers are compiling a list of criteria for potential stops for the torch, the first draft of which will be completed in June and is not yet public.

Richards said VANOC will approach potential communities this summer and ask them if they want to take part. It will be at least 18 months before a final decision is made.