The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are almost here!
Opening ceremonies are being held this Friday, Feb. 4 and I am very much looking forward to cheering on our athletes until the Games wrap up on Feb. 20.
One of my favourite sports to watch is hockey and I was excited to hear that there would be a few different language options for Canadians tuning into men's and women's games via CBC.
In a first for the network, CBC reported this week that their game streams will provide live play-by-play in Inuktitut as part of their Indigenous languages coverage. The opening and closing ceremonies will also have broadcasts in Eastern Cree and select games will be accompanied by Eastern Cree in both Southern Inland and Northern Coastal dialects.
David Ningeongan and Pujjuut Kusugak will be apart of the Inuktitut coverage during the match-ups.
Though I myself won't be accessing this service, I am glad that those who want to will have that option.
As we know, representation is important and I think that having viewers – especially kids – hear their dialect and see a face that resembles theirs on television during a worldwide event is huge. It shows them that their knowledge is valuable and makes them feel seen and heard.
Just as Harnarayan Singh, who was born in Brooks, began doing Punjabi play-by-play during Hockey Night in Canada.
Whether you're watching, listening or reading to keep up with our country's progress in the Games, I hope you have a chance to appreciate what it means to be Canadian and feel a sense of pride in athletes that are carrying the maple leaf on their backs.
Keep in mind, something that seems so small to most of us – like turning on the television to a sports game in our native language – is precious and meaningful in preserving one's heritage and recognizing the beautiful, diverse True North.
