2002 Games honored at Olympic Cauldron relighting ceremony

The Olympic Cauldron outside of Rice-Eccles Stadium was relit on Tuesday night to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. Photo: Twitter @JStuartAdams

SALT LAKE CITY — In honor of the 20th anniversary of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the Olympic Cauldron outside of Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah was relit as the Beehive State continues to campaign for a future Games in 2030 or 2034.

“So much of what we love and enjoy here in Utah can be tied to what happened back in 2002,” Gov. Spencer Cox said at the ceremony. “It was when the world discovered Utah, and when Utah welcomed the world. It was a time when we all came together.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall cited data that more than 80% of Utahns are supportive of a future Olympics.

“What that says to me is that those of us who were here back in 2002 are hungry to welcome the world again, and also that the kids we brought up, and the new people who have come to live in this state feel that passion, too,” Mendenhall said. “Utah is ready. We are ready to welcome the world again.”

“The flame has a unifying influence in the world,” said Fraser Bullock, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games.

“Our star as an Olympic and Paralympic state has been shining brightly. Now we want it to shine again even more brightly by hosting future Games as early as 2030,” he said.

The committee for The Games, the Park City Council, the Summit County Council, and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation have scheduled a joint meeting on Feb. 15 at 2 pm MT at Utah Olympic Park to discuss a potential Olympic bid for 2030 or 2034.

The Cauldron will remain burning through Feb. 12.

Watch the full ceremony: