Bid for SLC Olympics gets boost from Lindsey Vonn at meeting in Switzerland

The bid to bring the Olympics back to the state got a boost Wednesday, as Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn joined officials for a meeting with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.

This was the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee’s final opportunity to pitch Utah for the Winter Olympics in 2030 and beyond, before recommendations are made later this year.

Committee president and CEO Fraser Bullock said the meeting went very and included some positive feedback from the president of the IOC.

“He complimented us on our thinking so far and our approach to build upon our legacy of 2002,” Bullock said.  “In fact, he said, ‘build a new legacy on your legacy.’”

Bullock said the committee had named Lindsey Vonn as chair of the athlete experience, bringing her front and center in the bid to bring the games back to Utah. Vonn is already a governing board member of the committee.

“I think we got really positive responses from everyone involved,” Vonn said. “We were able to present our vision, which I think is incredible. We have a really strong legacy component already from the 2002 Olympics.”

Those 2002 Winter Games were Vonn’s first and best Olympic experience, she said, adding that she hopes “we can create something really special for all the Olympic participants and also for their families.”

“If we were able to get this nomination, it would be such a full-circle moment for me to be able to have my first Olympics be in Salt Lake and to participate and potentially help this bid and this nomination, it would be such an incredible opportunity.”

The next step for Utah’s bid is waiting for the Future Host Commission to make their recommendation for a host city or cities to the board. That is expected to happen in November this year. The board will meet to consider the recommendation(s) beginning in December. And an announcement on the host cities for 2030 and potentially 2034 is expected in May 2023.

“We will host a games when it is in the best interest of the Olympic movement and all the pieces fit together as best we can,” Bullock said. “And we’re trying to make those pieces fit together as soon as we can.”

The meetings in Switzerland come one week before Vonn is being inducted into the U.S. Olympics Hall of Fame.

“I mean, these are some of the all-time great U.S. Olympians and to be able to be in that class is a huge honor. And I’ve always felt it’s an honor to represent my country in the Olympics so this means the world to me.”