2034 Winter Games organizing committee announced; Park City officials not included

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Governor Spencer Cox and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) CEO Sarah Hirshland jointly announced the leadership and board of the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Friday (Feb. 14) at the Utah State Capitol. Notably, no elected officials from Park City or Summit County were included. Longtime Olympic leader Fraser Bullock was named executive chair and president. Business leader and former Utah Speaker of the House Brad Wilson was named as chief executive officer. Wilson and Utah business executive Steve Starks will serve as vice chairs of the board.

Bullock served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer for the 2002 Winter Games and led Utah’s 2034 bid effort as president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. A Utah business and community leader, Wilson served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2011-23, including as speaker of the house from 2019-23. Starks is CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company and former president of the Utah Jazz. He served as liaison to Governor Cox on the Olympic and Paralympic bid committee.

Governor Cox and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall were named honorary chairs, while Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams and Speaker of the House Mike Schultz will serve as honorary vice chairs – similar to the leadership roles they held with the bid committee.

“Strong leadership is vital for a successful 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and an enduring legacy for Utah,” said Governor Cox in a statement. “Fraser Bullock brings a great depth of Olympic experience as our executive chair and president. Brad Wilson has proven over many years to be a talented and prudent leader, and we look to his guidance as CEO. I’m grateful for Steve Starks, who has been my Olympic advisor, for his deep experience in business and sports and entertainment.”

Six representatives were named to the initial executive committee, including Bullock, Starks, Hirshland, and USOPC President Gene Sykes. Athlete representatives will include Olympic champion and Utah resident Lindsey Vonn, as well as Team USA bobsledder Chris Kinney.

Park City Mayor, Nann Worel said she was excited to see the exceptional Utah Olympic organizing team announced.

“On behalf of Park City, I am fully committed to supporting them as we work toward our common goal of delivering a successful 2034 Olympic Games. I look forward to sharing the leadership roles that I, along with other community leaders, will play in this united effort,” Worel said.

Four-time Olympic speedskater Catherine Raney Norman, who served as bid committee chair, will head the organizing committee’s Athletes’ Commission. Eight Olympic and Paralympic athletes will serve on the board, including a host of past medalists. Among them are 2002 figure skating champion Sarah Hughes, nine-time summer and winter Paralympic champion Oksana Masters, Idaho native and three-time 2002 Para Alpine medalist Muffy Davis, seven-time Olympic track and field gold medalist Allyson Felix, and Utah resident and Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn.

The development of the 25-person organizing committee board was a collective effort between Utah Olympic and Paralympic leaders, the State of Utah, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, with review from the International Olympic Committee. The board includes business, sport, and community leaders, with a third being Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The board also includes USOPC, IOC members in the United States, and International Paralympic Committee representation.

As CEO, Wilson will manage the day-to-day operations of the organizing committee. As the executive chair, Bullock will drive strategy and relationship building, drawing on his vast network and knowledge base in Olympic and Paralympic sport. As vice chair, Starks will help oversee the work of the board and support and advise Wilson.

“Our 2002 Games left a rich legacy in our state and set an example across the world on how the Olympic and Paralympic Games can enrich communities for years to come,” said Bullock. “We are fortunate to have Brad Wilson join our team, bringing great connectivity to our state and helping us maximize the benefits of the Games across Utah.”

“The 2002 Olympic Winter Games left a big impression on me, from supporting my wife Jeni in the Olympic torch run through our community to seeing the 9-11 flag come into Rice-Eccles stadium and being there for Apolo Ohno’s first gold medal,” said Wilson. “We have a wealth of experience on our organizing team. It’s an honor for me to lead them as we look to engage communities across our entire state over the next nine years leading up to the Games.”

“The next decade will define the trajectory of this state, and the Olympics serve as a tremendous catalyst for the future,” said Starks. “I’m honored and excited to work with Fraser and Brad and our esteemed board in helping prepare for and lead the Games.”

With every competition venue already identified and in place, 2034 leaders are looking to use the nine-year lead-up period as a time to focus on communities.

“In the lead-up to 2002, we were constructing venues. As we move towards 2034, our focus will be on communities,” said Bullock. “We want to ensure that the values of sport will impact all 29 counties in Utah.”

Additional committees are expected to be named, including a steering committee to provide advisory support, with broad community and sport engagement.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE

2034 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

LEADERSHIP

Executive Chair & President: Fraser Bullock, Alpine, UT

Vice Chair & CEO: Brad Wilson, Kaysville, UT

Vice Chair: Steve Starks, South Jordan, UT

HONORARY CHAIRS

Honorary Chairs: Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall

Honorary Vice Chairs: Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Utah Speaker of the House Mike Schultz

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Fraser Bullock, Alpine, UT (Executive Chair & President)

Sarah Hirshland, Colorado Springs, CO (USOPC CEO)

Chris Kinney, Stockbridge, GA (Team USA Athletes’ Commission, Olympian)

Steve Starks, South Jordan, UT (Vice Chair)

Gene Sykes, Los Angeles (USOPC Chair)

Lindsey Vonn, Park City, UT (Olympian)

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BOARD

Mindy Benson, Cedar City, UT

Fraser Bullock, Alpine, UT (Executive Chair & President)

Muffy Davis, Sun Valley, ID (IPC Governing Board, Paralympian)

Anita DeFrantz, Santa Monica, CA (IOC Member, Olympian)

Spencer P. Eccles, Salt Lake City

Allyson Felix, Los Angeles (IOC Member, Olympic Champion)

Sophie Goldschmidt, Park City, UT (National Governing Body Council)

Manny Guerra, Jr., Plymouth, MN (Paralympian)

David Haggerty, London (IOC Member)

Sarah Hirshland, Colorado Springs, CO (USOPC CEO)

Kathleen Holding, Sheridan, WY

Jack Hollis, Dallas (USOPC)

Brett Hopkins, Salt Lake City

Sarah Hughes, New York City (Olympian)

Chris Kinney, Stockbridge, GA (Team USA Athletes’ Commission, Olympian)

Crystal Maggelet, Salt Lake City

Oksana Masters, Louisville, KY (Paralympian)

Abby Osborne, Salt Lake City

Dexter Paine, New York City (USOPC)

Steve Price, Salt Lake City

Ryan Smith, Provo, UT

Steve Starks, South Jordan, UT (Vice Chair)

Gene Sykes, Los Angeles (USOPC Chair)

Lindsey Vonn, Park City, UT (Olympian)

Brad Wilson, Kaysville, UT (Vice Chair and CEO)

ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP COMMENTS

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Honorary Chair

“As the capital city of Utah, Salt Lake City will showcase the heart of the games in our downtown sports and entertainment district. Salt Lake City takes pride in being the gateway to the Games with our new international airport, and the home for athletes and families in the Olympic Village at the University of Utah.”

Olympic Champion Lindsey Vonn, Athlete Executive Committee Member

“It’s an honor to join the executive committee for the 2034 Salt Lake Olympics. Salt Lake holds a special meaning to me, as it’s where I competed in my first Olympics back in 2002. I was also fortunate to be part of the bid committee that brought the Games back to Utah. Now, as an athlete representative, I’m excited to contribute to initiatives like the Family Village and ensure an exceptional experience for all athletes in 2034.”

Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Honorary Vice Chair

“Utah is the State of Sport. We are proud to show off our state’s natural beauty, but most of all, we are excited to showcase our welcoming people and the values they represent. I look forward to collaborating with the Organizing Committee as we prepare to welcome the world to Utah once again in 2034.”

Utah Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, Honorary Vice Chair

“The Olympics have and will play a key role in Utah’s past, present, and future. We cannot wait to show the world once again what we’re all about. Fraser Bullock, Brad Wilson, and Steve Starks are the perfect people to lead this effort and organize games that celebrate and honor Utah’s Olympic legacy and look to the future – 2034 and beyond.”