Salt Lake City named as preferred host for the 2034 Olympic Games

Photo: Michele Roepke

Salt Lake City will now enter into a targeted dialogue with the IOC

PARIS, France — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) announced today that it will now only consider for Switzerland to host the 2038 or 2042 Winter Olympics, leaving France and Salt Lake City as the two remaining bidding nations in consideration for 2030 or 2034.

Austrian Karl Stoss, the new head of the IOC’s Future Host Committee, said that France and Salt Lake City have been invited into targeted dialogues as a “double allocation” for the 2030 and 2034 Games.

Sweden is out of the running for forthcoming hosting. The country was thanked by Stoss for its bid to host the “most sustainable Games in history,” but he noted that further work is needed in the realms of, “business, government support, and funding. They are “encouraged to continue to strengthen their concept.” 

Stoss said that Salt Lake City has “very strong public and political support” and a “proven track record from the 2002 Olympics Games.”

Stoss went on to describe how, “USA has no capital investment required, and experience and success in hosting all levels of international sports.”

We did it! The world is coming back to Utah in 2034. So proud of our team and can’t wait to make this the greatest Olympics ever.

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) November 29, 2023

A major reason cited for the why of Salt Lake City being “more likely” to host in 2034 verses 2030 comes from communication by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). They say that it would be better if there was more time in between the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games and 2034 to procure the most commercial support.

Switzerland made it known to the IOC that, in an expanded geographical concept to spread the responsibility and the opportunity among its citizenry, its proposed bid to host Winter Games in 2030 or 2034 would be hosted in four corners of the country.   

A bid from Sapporo, Japan is “too early in the current context,” but that the IOC is more than happy to continue dialogue.

The Salt Lake-Utah Committee for the Games lists among its strengths: 

• Unified Support and Unmatched Passion
• Fiscal Responsibility and Close Proximity
• Expanded Infrastructure and Unrivaled Experience
• Lasting Legacy Built for the Future

What are the next steps? 

There’s a six month countdown timeline for targeted dialogues to occur. Other meetings are on the docket for finalists in the end of February. Another IOC visit to potentially Northern Utah is scheduled for April. In May, 2024 presentations will be made to the Future Host Committee. After that, in June, presentations will be bumped up to the EB.

The big bid announcement from the IOC regarding which nations will be named as the 2030 and 2034 hosts is planned for days before the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.