PARIS, France (July 24, 2024)—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has named Salt Lake City, Utah, the host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games during its 142nd IOC Session at Palais des Congrès de Paris. More than a decade in the making, the Games will return to Utah after 32 years and will be held for the fifth time in America.
Salt Lake City-Utah championed a bid that was hallmarked by great unity across the state, from citizens to elected leaders. It showcased the state’s preparedness, with a sustainable plan that included no new permanent venue construction and the use of sites that have been well-maintained as community facilities since the Winter Games in 2002.
It was an athlete-centric bid, with every venue within an hour’s drive of the Athlete Village at the University of Utah. The bid also featured an innovative approach to elevating the games experience for athletes, with a first-ever Athlete Family Village.
"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,” said President and CEO Fraser Bullock, the 2002 chief operating officer who has championed Utah’s cause with the IOC. “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."
A bedrock of the Salt Lake City-Utah bid was the impact sport has on youth, and how it brings communities together. In addition to a host of Olympic and Paralympic athletes in its delegation, three Utah teens were in the audience to represent the future.
"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,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “More than 80% of Utahns and 100% of our elected leaders supported our Olympic bid. We're ready to host another Winter Games and we can't wait to welcome the world back to Utah in 2034."
The 30-minute presentation to the IOC highlighted dramatic visuals of the state, and delved into the deep values that sport brings to the world.
“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,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Through the Olympic movement, 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.”
The unity and preparedness of Salt Lake City-Utah’s campaign are rooted in its living legacy. Since 2002, every single venue has thrived, offering community sport programs and fan entertainment. Organizations formed before the 2002 Games, such as the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and Utah Sports Commission, have formed a backbone to not just keep the legacy alive but make it an integral part of communities.
With the 2034 award, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2034 Salt Lake City-Utah joins Los Angeles 2028 with two Games in America over six years.
“This a great day for winter sport in the United States and around the world,” said Gene Sykes, USOPC Chair. “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 a terrific Games in 2034.”
The IOC's recognition was an emotional moment for the Salt Lake City-Utah delegation, which has run a grassroots bid focused on community and sport.
The journey to the 2034 Games began with early discussions in 2002. The seed germinated with a 2012 exploratory report, followed by others. In December 2018, the U.S. Olympic Committee named Salt Lake City-Utah America’s Choice. A bid committee was formally empaneled in February 2020. By November 2020, it was engaged with the IOC in a continuous dialogue. In November 2023, the IOC advanced the bid to targeted dialogue. After a positive site visit in April, 2024 by the Future Host Commission, the IOC Executive Board in June acted on the recommendation of the Commission to advance Salt Lake City-Utah to a vote by the IOC Membership.