Salt Lake City is officially the place for the 2034 Winter Olympics
Jul 24, 2024, 4:21 AM | Updated: 9:18 am
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City will be the place. Again.
It’s finally official: Utah has been selected to host the 2034 Olympics.
The announcement, while not a surprise, was a welcome one with an International Olympic Committee vote to finally make it official. A contingent of Utah leaders and stakeholders was in Paris to make a final, official presentation, just hours before the 2024 Olympic Summer Games start in Paris.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Boch made the announcement.
“The International Olympic Committee has the honor to announce that the 27th Olympic Winter Games, 2034, are awarded to Salt Lake City, Utah.”
The crowd in Washington Square cheered enthusiastically, as did the Utah delegation inside the IOC meeting room.
Who’s excited for the #2034OlympicAnnouncement #utah #saltlakecity @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/qCM1HAgUyE
— Lori Prichard (@LoriPrichard) July 24, 2024
Meanwhile, citizens gathered in downtown Salt Lake City to hear the announcement live. Shots of the gathering were available in Paris, while the Paris presentation was shown to the gathered crowds.
The vote, which seemed like a formality, had some tense moments. The IOC is concerned about doping, but also that U.S. doping authorities don’t respect the “supreme authority” of the World Anti Doping Agency. The CEO of the USADA was previously critical of the world organization after some Chinese swimmers were accused of doping.
“There was concern over the impact on the award and the timing of the award,” Fraser Bullock, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, told the Deseret News, adding, “but we also had confidence in our capabilities and in the strength of our bid and in our resolve to make sure that we do everything in our power to work on this going forward.”
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The IOC took a hard stance that WADA must be respected, causing some concern for the Utah delegation.
The presentation and decision were broadcast live on KSL and at Washington Square in Salt Lake City, and connected to Utah’s bid delegation, which included Olympic athletes, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. It was a big day and a monumental decision by any standard.
“Salt Lake City will become an enormous Olympic center,” Fraser Bullock said during the presentation that provided the IOC with the committee’s vision for the Games. “We are ready. Everything is in place, but beyond our physical assets, you can count on our people.”
He said the city center would host both a medals plaza and competition venues, creating a center for the Games. But he said better than the venues or plans, it was Utah’s people that would elevate the games. He introduced Cox to further that theme for the committee.
MORE: Exclusive news, stories and highlights from the Paris Olympics on KSL TV and KSL Sports.
When Cox spoke, he said good morning to International Olympic Committee members and also wished a good early morning to the crowds gathered at Washington Square, who cheered that opportunity, and every opportunity, to appear to the group gathered in Paris.
The map from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute that shows proposed Olympic venues and their proximity and driving time to Salt Lake City, released to details how it found Utah favorably positioned to hos another successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (University of Utah)
“You can count on us,” Cox said while touting the people of Utah. He said the state has the “Utah way” that values relationships and connections above political parties. He said Utah has 100% political alignment for the games.
“We are ready to help elevate the 2034 Games as well as the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” Cox said.
Mendenhall also spoke as part of the presentation said the Games would be good for Utah and would have a goal to do good.
Crowd is amped in Washington Square for the big #SLCOLYMPICS announcement at 3:30AM! @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/7FqRRUePWR
— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) July 24, 2024
“The Olympic values are embedded in our DNA,” Mendenhall said. “We will make these games more welcoming and more inclusive.”
The bid seemed a sure thing but, “It’s never over until it’s over,” Fraser Bullock, the volunteer president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, that is behind the bid told KSL TV hours before the vote.
“We have a dream of hosting the world again,” Bullock said. “The people of Utah invite you.”
He then said before returning the floor to the IOC President Thomas Boch for any questions. The IOC then invited several of its members to speak, several praising Salt Lake City and also raising concerns about anti-doping measures.
The IOC then presented its own report. Karl Stoss spoke for the IOC and praised Utah’s bid, venues and its ability to host world-class games.
He noted that Utah’s governor and Salt Lake City’s mayor were from different political parties but united on the bid for the Games. He said the bid from Salt Lake City-Utah has “met all requirements.”
Stoss also reported that his visit to the Salt Lake City International Airport included a Utah man who recognized him and quoted him.
Join @KSL5TV right now! We are inside the IOC meeting where a large contingent of prominent Utahn’s are excitedly waiting for the IOC vote on the 2034 Winter Games.#KSLOlympics @kslsports pic.twitter.com/aMc4H0xObs
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) July 24, 2024
“Hey man, bring the games back!” Stoss said. “This is the bid of Salt Lake City.”
The Utah committee previously said hosting the Olympics would not cost Utah taxpayers any money, and Bullock said it would make money.
Lindsay Vaughn, helping the Utah bid, said the 2034 Games would be the first to feature an initiative that takes care of athlete’s families, including a family village. She said it would solve one of her biggest Olympic challenges of taking care of loved ones with tickets and accommodations while also trying to focus on competition.
