'Social media frenzy' forecast for Fairbanks games

We imagine its going to be something of a social media frenzy, says Jeanne Lassen.

The former Olympic weightlifter from Whitehorse is now in charge of social media for Team Yukon in Fairbanks this year.

She says theyll be using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and their old-fashioned email newsletter to keep parents and fans up to date on everything Arctic Winter Games.

Mission staff will be onsite with the athletes and theyll be texting us right away what happens and well be firing it out right way so its gonna be pretty instantaneous, Lassen says. And of course, well have the athletes themselves, so if they go on Instagram and upload pictures, were gonna be able to fire them back out to everybody.

So far, thats the game plan for Team NWT and Team Nunavut as well, which could make for a lot of information.

Its pretty funny how things have changed, says Lassen, who remembers going to the games herself in 1992 and 1994.

I actually just moved recently and I was unpacking and I found a good luck fax from my first Junior World Championships. Its just so hard, I think, for this generation of athletes to get their heads around the fact that... you didnt talk to your parents the whole time you were at the competition.

But Lassen says social media can provide a whole new experience for people at home.

These games are heavily focused on the teenage athletes, so I think we need to get really involved with what theyre doing.

Team NWT, in its participant handbook, is encouraging its athletes to join in.

The more people post and tag, the more exciting the online experience will be for everybody, it reads.

The same handbook also adds a handy reminder. Note that everything you tweet, post, or tag, is on the record and may be viewed by media so only tag what you want the world to see.

To join in, follow the #AWG2014 hashtag, or hone in your team: #TeamNWT, #TeamNunavut or #TeamYukon.

And make sure you download the Fairbanks Arctic Winter Games app, courtesy of the 2014 host society, so you can keep on top of schedules and results.