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At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, commentators Pujjuut Kusugak and David Ningeongan delivered live hockey commentary in Inuktitut during Canada’s quarterfinal against Czechia. Their broadcasts narrated Mitch Marner’s overtime winner while offering Inuit audiences a rare chance to follow high-stakes sport in their own language. The appearance of two commentators from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, brought national attention to the intersection of broadcasting, community engagement and cultural preservation at a global sporting event.
The trending moment
Their Inuktitut feed ran alongside the English coverage and drew widespread attention online. Industry experts confirm the broadcasts amplified Indigenous-language visibility during a marquee Olympic match. The coverage amassed shares and reactions under the social hashtag #InuktitutHockey, reaching audiences who responded to the energy and authenticity even without full comprehension of every word.
From grassroots radio to Olympic arenas
Neither Kusugak nor Ningeongan arrived at the Olympic microphone by chance. Kusugak previously offered commentary at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for APTN and has minor-league hockey experience. Ningeongan spent nearly two decades on local radio in Nunavut and became the first Inuk announcer at the Fred Sasakamoose National Hockey Tournament in Saskatoon. Their Inuktitut hockey coverage for CBC during Beijing reached over 110,000 video views across CBC digital platforms and later expanded into basketball and contributions to Hockey Night in Canada presentations.
Community collaboration on language
Those in the North know that language choices matter. Kusugak and Ningeongan consult elders, rink staff and viewers to adapt terminology across multiple dialects. They test forms in real time and adopt terms that resonate broadly. For example, community feedback shortened an early translation for puck to a concise form similar to “Pak.” A local suggestion led to the use of “Sipkutijut” for icing, demonstrating how practical, on-the-ground knowledge shapes broadcast vocabulary.
Practical language work in live sport
Translating hockey jargon requires more than literal equivalents. Rapid play demands concise phrasing and rhythmic delivery. Some English words carry cultural connotations that do not map neatly, so commentators provide contextual cues rather than direct calques. They also draw on family and community input during live shifts, turning broadcasts into collaborative teaching moments and a living-language practice.
Beyond sport: language preservation and inspiration
Using Inuktitut on an international stage functions as cultural stewardship. Ningeongan has warned that communities are “losing our language,” and broadcasting at the Olympics is one response. Hearing Inuktitut linked to excitement and national pride may motivate youth to engage with their language. The trend that’s taking over in Indigenous media is to pair representation with practical language development, creating role models and normalizing Indigenous-language content in mainstream sports.
As Milano Cortina continues and medal matches approach, Kusugak and Ningeongan’s work remains visible and discussed. Their broadcasts converted tense playoff moments into shared cultural experiences, showing how sports commentary can sustain language and identity while delivering the immediacy fans expect.