Salt Lake City officially elected as host of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games

Members of the crowd cheer in downtown Salt Lake City as the official Olympics announcement is made. Photo: TownLift // Marina Knight

Park City will be key to the 2034 Games, hosting events at the Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — On Wednesday, July 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially awarded Salt Lake City, Utah, the host contract for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

A crowd of thousands gathered in Salt Lake City’s Washington Park in the early hours of the morning to watch the announcement live from Paris, France. Many were sporting their 2002 Salt Lake City berets, and others wore red, white, and blue face paint as they erupted in cheers, jumping up and down in elation about the Olympics’ return to Utah.

 

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After 32 years and more than a decade in the making, the Winter Games will return to Utah and will be held in America for the fifth time.

“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 Gov. 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.”

Park City will be key to the 2034 Games, hosting events at the Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain Resort, and Deer Valley. The announcement will renew the city’s Olympic legacy and define the next decade of Park City’s history as preparations are made to bring back the Olympics.

“The next decade will be all about preparation. From our local athletes, some of them just getting started in their sport, to the state as a whole, we now have a call to action to host the most sustainable games ever while showcasing our legacy as an Olympic Host City,” Park City Mayor Nann Worell said after the announcement was made.

Utah set Olympic attendance records in 2002, selling more than 1.5 million tickets, with more than 70,000 fans in attendance per day — the highest attendance ever for a Winter Games. In addition, the 2002 Games sold a greater percentage of the available tickets than any previous Winter or Summer Olympic Games. The 2002 Winter Games had 2.1 billion viewers in 160 countries and territories and amassed 13.1 billion viewer hours, breaking records for broadcast, ticketing, and sponsorship at the time. During the Games, Utah had 22,000 volunteers and 2,399 athletes.

“This morning’s announcement that the Olympics are returning to Utah in 2034 is a monumental moment for our state. This event will bring millions of visitors here, uniting the world in a celebration of Olympic values like teamwork, dedication, and excellence,” U.S. Senate Candidate and Park City resident Caroline Gleich said.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for more Olympic coverage throughout the day.