The International Olympic Committee announced today that the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will return to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2034.
The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are slated to be held in Salt Lake City more than three decades after the successful 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Additionally, the Salt Lake City 2034 Games will mark the fifth time the Winter Games will be conducted in America.
Previous Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in the U.S. are the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Games, the Squaw Valley (Palisades-Tahoe) 1960 Olympic Games and the Lake Placid 1932 Olympic Games.
The news about Salt Lake City receiving the 2034 Winter Games bid followed an IOC Committee vote today at the 142nd International Olympic Committee Session in Paris.
“This is a great day for winter sport in the United States and around the world,” USOPC Chair Gene Sykes said. “The Games vision brought forth by the Salt Lake 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.”
Salt Lake City’s bid for the 2034 Games highlighted the legacy of the 2002 Games, showcasing venues that continue to serve Team USA and international athletes in elite competition. In addition, Salt Lake City’s plan requires no new permanent venue construction.
“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,” SLC-Utah President and CEO Fraser Bullock said. “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.”
The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games vision is notable for its athlete-centric focus, with world-class venues located near the Athletes’ Village.
“The community support and access to winter sport opportunities for Team USA athletes across the State of Utah is hugely impactful for American athletes who are competing today and for generations of athletes to come,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said. “We are thrilled for our friends and partners at SLC-Utah and, with them, look forward to welcoming the world in 2034.”
