GCI helps celebrate tradition, culture and youth leadership at 2025 Native Youth Olympic Games
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – GCI is proud to continue its longtime sponsorship this year of the Native Youth Olympic (NYO) Games in support of Alaska’s young athletes. The event brings together more than 1,200 student competitors and over 5,000 spectators from over 100 communities across the state to celebrate the strength, resilience and traditions of Alaska Native culture.
Hosted by Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC), the NYO Games Alaska are more than just a competition, they’re a cultural gathering rooted in centuries of tradition. The games promote endurance, skill, and, most importantly, teamwork and mutual support. NYO is open to students of all backgrounds, nurturing cross-cultural understanding and strengthening community ties across the state.
“NYO is such a powerful reflection of what matters most in Alaska: community, culture, and connection,” said Tiffany Vassar, senior program manager of GCI Gives, GCI’s corporate philanthropy program. “We’re honored to support this program that uplifts youth, fosters pride in heritage, and inspires the next generation of leaders.”
In 2024, 92% of student athletes said NYO helped them feel more connected to their culture, and 86% said it encouraged them to try harder in school.
“Each year, NYO showcases the incredible determination and cultural pride of our youth,” said Kelly Hurd, senior director of development, Cook Inlet Tribal Council. “These games are a celebration of heritage and heart, and we’re grateful for partners like GCI who help make this experience possible for athletes, families and communities across Alaska.”
In addition to providing in-kind connectivity and support of event operations and athlete experiences, GCI is also the proud sponsor of the Alaskan High Kick event, where competitors kick a ball as high as they can reach while balancing on one arm and holding one leg. Some athletes exceed 90 inches in the final round of the event. The Alaskan High Kick has roots in Inuit hunting practices, where it was sometimes used to signal a successful hunt and is also one of the most viewed events throughout the entire competition.
For those unable to attend in person, CITC will also stream and broadcast the games from the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The stream can be found here: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/bering-strait-school-district-unalakleet-co.
For more information on the NYO Games, visit https://citci.org/nyo-games/.
About GCI Gives
GCI is one of Alaska’s leaders in corporate philanthropy, donating approximately $2 million each year in cash, products and connectivity to organizations across the state. GCI is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and provides employees with 16 hours of paid leave to volunteer with local organizations. In 2024, nearly 500 GCI employees volunteered more than 5,000 hours. For more information about GCI Gives, visit http://www.gci.com/gcigives.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.