Park City teen selected as one of six Utah representatives at French youth sport festival

Victoria Morales is captain of the Park City Mountain Bike Team. She learned to ski with the Youth Sports Alliance Get Out & Play program. Photo: Barry Hill

Victoria Rosales set to represent Park City in France.

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City High School sophomore Victoria Rosales is among six Utah teens who will travel to France to participate in a global youth sports festival.

The Festival 24 de Sport dans la Ville, a prelude to the Olympic Games in Paris, will bring together more than 500 young people from 37 countries around the world from July 19 to 28 in Lyon and Paris. Festival 24 will celebrate the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and showcase social engagement through sport.

Rosales is captain of the Park City Mountain Bike Team and Latinos in Action vice president. She learned to ski with the Youth Sports Alliance Get Out & Play program and has come full circle, now teaching kids herself. She is also active in the YSA Junior Ski Instructor program with the Professional Ski Instructors of America.

“I am so excited! I can’t wait to meet others from around the world just like me,” Rosales said.

The event is part of a growing partnership between the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games and Sport dans le Ville, a Paris-based youth sports organization. On July 25, the day after the election for 2034, the young Utah delegation will be a part of a festival and workshop in a Paris park, Jardin d’Acclimatation. The day will kick off with a program featuring Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, 2002 women’s downhill champion Carole Montillet from France, and Utah‘s First Lady Abby Cox.

The First Lady played a key role in the development of the Utah program. Vonn, who lives in Park City, competed in 2002 and went on to win the downhill in 2010, is a part of Utah’s delegation that will present the bid to the full IOC membership on July 24.

“One of the great things about sport is that it brings everyone together, regardless of their background,” said the First Lady. “Sport can be a catalyst to energize communities and foster positive connections. That’s what I see in these young ambassadors from Utah.”

The Utah Youth Forum delegation includes Tyson Adamson, Lehi; Raymond Soto, Salt Lake City; Harun Ahmed, Salt Lake City; Victoria Rosales, Park City; Jazmin Solis, Mount Pleasant; and Ellie Finlinson, Moroni.

“A cornerstone of our bid has been to ensure we are elevating our youth,” said SLC-UT 2034 Board Chair Catherine Raney Norman, a four-time Olympic speedskater. “This group embodies our principles of sport and community. It will be an extraordinary opportunity for them to connect with peers from around the world who share their passions. Even more importantly, they will bring these enriching experiences back to Utah, inspiring others and uplifting our communities for years to come.”

Before heading to Paris, the group will first travel to Lyon, part of the France 2030 bid. In addition to the festivities on July 25, the delegation will also have an opportunity to watch the opening ceremony on July 26 along the Seine.

Private donations supported the group through the SLC-UT 2034 Committee for the Games and the Project 29 initiative, which aims to unite sport and community. Both the Larry H. Miller Group and Smith Entertainment group are providing Utah sports memorabilia, including Big League Utah baseballs and sports T-shirts, for the Utah delegation to give out in France.

UTAH FESTIVAL 24 ATHLETES

Tyson Adamson, 16, Lehi

A junior at Lehi High School, Tyson Adamson plays high school golf and lacrosse, as well as travel team baseball. He hopes to play college golf. “I love the Olympics. I can not wait to be there to meet people from all over the world. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get a better feel of the Olympic Spirit.”

Harun Ahmed, 16, Salt Lake City

A junior at West High School, Harun Ahmed’s sports passion is basketball, having played with the Salt Lake Bandits. His sports goal is to play Division 1 hoops. “I’m extremely grateful and thankful for what I’m about to experience. I’m hoping for this to help me to do better in school and in other important aspects of my life.

Ellie Finlinson, 16, Moroni

Now a junior at North Sanpete High School, she is active in the Manti soccer club and is also interested in pickleball and wrestling. An aspiring journalist, she has received numerous awards in the Utah College Media Awards in 2023 and 2024 and has been active as a class officer. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m honored to be a part of such an amazing organization. My long-range sports ambitions: I want to play soccer in college.”

Victoria Rosales, 16, Park City

A junior at Park City High School, Victoria Rosales is heavily engaged in both mountain biking and skiing. She is captain of her mountain biking team and Latinos in Action vice president. She learned to ski with the Youth Sports Alliance Get Out & Play program and has come full circle, now teaching kids herself. She is also active in the YSA Junior Ski Instructor program with the Professional Ski Instructors of America. “I am so excited! I can’t wait to meet others from around the world just like me.”

Jazmin Solis, 16, Mount Pleasant

A junior at North Sanpete High School, Jasmine Solis plays on the tennis team. She learned about the program through her high school journalism program: “I am so excited to be able to participate in this program! Going to France is a dream and going to the Olympics is even more than that. I’m excited to meet new people who share the same passion for sports as me”

Raymond Soto, 17, Salt Lake City
Raymond Soto, a senior at West High School in Salt Lake City, grew up in the Rose Park neighborhood. He enjoys longboarding and weightlifting and is a JROTC Navy member. This past year, he ranked up to Alpha Platoon Chief and Second Petty Officer. He has also won the Military Officers of America Association Award. After graduating from Utah Valley University, his career goal is to become a marine. He was nominated by his sixth-grade teacher, John ‘Captain’ Arthur. “It’s truly an amazing opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime one at that, I’m so thankful for this blessing and everyone who’s got me to this point.”