Park City leaders will head to Italy to learn what it takes to host the Olympics again

The Olympics rings against the backdrop of Anterselva, where the bialtholon events will take place at the upcoming 2026 Olympics in northern Italy. Photo: AP // Alessandro Trovati

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Municipal will send three city leaders to Italy this winter to participate in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Observers Program, a key step in preparing for the 2034 Winter Games in Utah.

Mayor Ryan Dickey, Councilmember Tana Toly and Acting City Manager Jodi Emery will represent Park City as part of Utah’s coordinated participation in the International Olympic Committee’s official Observers Program. The initiative places leaders from future host communities on the ground during an active Olympic Games to study real-time operations.

The program focuses on transportation, venue logistics, public safety, security and mountain operations — areas expected to play a major role in Park City’s involvement in the 2034 Games. More than 80 elected officials and civic leaders from across Utah are participating.

“As Mayor, a member of the 2034 Steering Committee, and Vice Chair of the Olympic Host Communities Committee, it’s my responsibility to learn directly from communities hosting the Games,” Dickey said. “That firsthand experience is essential to making smart, disciplined decisions at home as we prepare for 2034.”

Park City played a central role in the 2002 Winter Olympics and is expected to do so again when the Games return to Utah. The city’s delegation will take part in Wave 3 of the Observers Program, based in Cortina d’Ampezzo, with an emphasis on mountain venues, logistics, security and competition delivery. The itinerary includes site visits, workshops and behind-the-scenes meetings with Olympic organizers and host communities.

Toly, who served as Park City’s liaison during the Olympic bid process, will focus on local benefits, regional partnerships and economic impacts. Emery, who oversees the city’s 350-person municipal workforce, will concentrate on operational readiness, community engagement and coordination of city services.

“The IOC’s Observers Program gives community and resort leaders direct, practical insight into how the Games operate in real time,” said Kelsey Berg, Utah 2034 Director of Government Relations. “Participants engage with organizers, explore venue communities firsthand, and bring those lessons back to Utah as we prepare for 2034.”

Participation in the Observers Program follows a long-standing practice by Olympic host communities. Similar trips were conducted ahead of the 2002 Winter Games, and most recently during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where Utah’s successful 2034 bid was announced.