Salt Lake City-Utah has officially been selected to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, with a delegation led by Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, USOPC President Gene Sykes, and Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games President Fraser Bullock.
IOC President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in the selection, stating, “Salt Lake City and Utah are long-time friends of the Olympic Movement, and we are confident that they will organize exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Games, just as they did years ago. The legacy of 2002 is tangibly and passionately alive in Utah. The legacy of 2034 starts today.”
Governor Cox highlighted the community’s enthusiasm, saying, “The Olympics and Paralympics represent so much more than competition. At its core, the Olympic Movement is about building community and celebrating excellence, things we do really well in Utah. More than 80 percent of Utahns and 100 percent of our elected leaders supported our Olympic bid. We’re ready to host another Olympic Winter Games, and we can’t wait to welcome the world back to Utah in 2034.”
Karl Stoss, IOC Member and Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, emphasized the strong support for the bid. “Olympic Winter Games in Utah represent a fantastic opportunity. This very strong project benefits from an exceptionally high level of public and political support. The athletes will benefit from great facilities and opportunities this project has to offer.”
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Extending the Legacy of 2002
The Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid aims to extend the transformative benefits of the 2002 Winter Games to a new generation. The project aligns with Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5, as well as regional socio-economic development plans. The Games will be hosted in world-class, 100 percent existing or temporary venues, promoting sustainable change in Utah.
During the Commission’s visit, they witnessed the excellent venues and the immense experience and expertise that exists in Utah. “Enthusiasm for the Games was palpable in every interaction we had, both at the venues and in meetings with athletes, sports leaders, politicians, and the private sector,” said Stoss.
A Strong Partnership
Mayor Erin Mendenhall underscored the deep connection between Salt Lake City and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. “Salt Lake City and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement are deeply connected through values – our commitment to diversity, love for our youth, and the tireless work to preserve our environment. These principles are shared through the lens of sport. I can’t imagine a better partnership than the one we continue to forge with our Olympic partners.”
USOPC President Gene Sykes called it a great day for winter sports. “The Games vision brought forth by the Salt Lake City-Utah team – inclusive of state and city leaders, the remarkable bid team, and the community that showed support for this effort throughout – has been collaborative and forward-looking from the very start. We are thankful to the IOC and to Karl Stoss who led the Future Host Commission, and we look forward to the process of organizing what we know will be terrific Games in 2034.”
Fraser Bullock, President and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, emphasized the significance of the decision. “Today’s decision by the International Olympic Committee is as much about the Olympic and Paralympic Movement as it is about Salt Lake City-Utah. We are proud to show the world how our living legacy brings value to our communities, enriches the lives of youth, and helps contribute to the world of sport.”
Commitment to Clean Sport
Before the vote, IOC Members raised concerns about recent developments in the United States challenging the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In response, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 and the USOPC confirmed their full commitment to compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. IOC Member John Coates confirmed that the Olympic Host Contract would be strengthened to protect the integrity of the international anti-doping system.
The measure has been fully supported by the State of Utah and the USOPC. Out of 89 valid votes, there were 83 ‘yes’ votes for Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, with 6 ‘no’ votes and 6 abstentions.
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organization committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 percent of its income to the wider sporting movement, meaning that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organizations at all levels around the world.
