The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Wednesday, July 24, that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. This will be the first time the event has returned to the Crossroads of the West, Utah’s capitol city since 2002.
This IOC decision has been in the making for a long time. In 2018, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee picked Salt Lake as its primary choice for the next Winter Games. Then, in November 2023, the IOC engaged with Salt Lake City in a “targeted dialogue” about being the host city for 2034.
Salt Lake City enthusiastically welcomed the Games back.
“Utah loves the Games and what they mean to the world,” said Fraser Bullock, Salt Lake City’s 2034 Olympic Games President and CEO, at the IOC session. “It has been our dream to be here back in front of you almost ever since we submitted our final report for the 2002 Games.”
Salt Lake City Winter Olympics 2034
Traditionally, the host city is chosen through a bid race process. Cities worldwide submit applications to the IOC, and members vote to select a winner. However, under new bidding reform policies, the IOC can instead enter targeted dialogues with a preferred candidate and make a direct selection. That was the case with Salt Lake City, as well as the French Alps region selected to host the 2030 Winter Olympics.
In Salt Lake City, the University of Utah’s football stadium will be open for many of the Games’ events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Utah Jazz Arena will host figure skating and short-track speed skating. Deer Valley and Park City ski resorts will hold many of the snowboarding and skiing events.
“We are extremely excited to help welcome the world to Utah for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games,” said Jared Smith, president & CEO of Deer Valley’s parent company, Alterra Mountain Company, in a press release. “By 2034, Deer Valley will have been reimagined to become an even more spectacular destination.”
In 2002, Utah spent $1.9 billion to host the Winter Olympic Games, according to KSL-TV. The projected operating budget for 2034 is about $2.83 billion. Economic projections from the University of Utah estimate the 2034 Games will have a $6.6 billion economic impact on Utah over the next 10 years.
Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics before Salt Lake hosts the 2034 Winter Games. Interestingly, in 2002, when Salt Lake last hosted the Winter Olympics, it was similarly only 6 years after another American city, Atlanta, hosted the 1996 Summer Games.
Despite the Salt Lake Olympics being a decade away, the IOC sounds confident Utah is already prepared to host them.
“I think Salt Lake City would be ready to start the Olympic Winter Games tomorrow,” said IOC Future Host Commission chair Karl Stoss.
