Salt Lake City chosen to host 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics
The International Olympic Committee has awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics to Salt Lake City, Utah, following a vote in Paris on Wednesday.
Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, hosted the most recent Winter Games in the United States back in 2002. A watch party was set up at 3 a.m. local time to celebrate the announcement, which happened to coincide with Pioneer Day, a state holiday. Salt Lake City received a vote of 83-6 to host the Winter Games.
“Since 2002, Utah Sports Commission has supported over 1,000 events, including 175 elite events such as world cups and championships,” the IOC said in a report published last month, via Li Cohen of CBS News. “Hosting in 2034 would prolong the lifespan of the outstanding venues from 2002, maintained to high standards by their owners, their operators and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
“Utah is the youngest state in the USA, with a median age of 31. And has one of the fastest-growing economies,” the report continues. “Commitment to sport and to giving back is embedded in the Utahn DNA.”
Salt Lake City was the lone contender to host the Winter Games. Climate change and operational costs have steered cities away from willing to host, per The Associated Press.
“We are ready. Everything is in place,” Fraser Bullock, the leader of Salt Lake City’s bid committee, said in a presentation at the IOC session Wednesday, via Tom Schad of USA Today. “But beyond our physical assets, you can count on our people. As great as our venues are, our people are even better.”
U.S. gearing up to host multiple Olympics in coming years
Salt Lake City had been supported as a host candidate going back to 2018 when the process began. The only question was whether it would be in 2030 or 2034. The IOC chose the French Alps as the host for the 2030 Winter Games. The IOC previously announced that the 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in the U.S. Los Angeles is serving as the host.
“It’s a once in a generation opportunity,” Visit Salt Lake President and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson said. “It’s just a very exciting time and it’s going to catapult us into that global stage.”