SnogBlogy

The Winter Olympics and Paralympics moved a step closer to returning to Salt Lake City in 2034 following a decision by the International Olympic Committee to deem the city a “preferred host” on Wednesday.

The IOC said it had invited the French National Olympic Committee — bidding to host in the French Alps in 2030 — and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to enter into “targeted dialogues” about hosting their respective Games. The hosts for each event are expected to be officially named in July.

The French Alps and Salt Lake City-Utah invited into respective Targeted Dialogues to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030 and 2034. pic.twitter.com/t3XJyyVH8P

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) November 29, 2023

Salt Lake City last hosted the Winter Games in 2002, also the last time an Olympics took place in the United States. The Games are set to return to the U.S. in 2028 in Los Angeles. Italy is hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Advertisement

The IOC said the ability to use existing venues from the 2002 Games was a major factor in moving forward with the Salt Lake City bid.

“What really stood out about the French Alps and Salt Lake City-Utah projects was their vision for the athlete experience, their alignment with regional and national socio-economic development plans, and their very strong support from the public and from all levels of government,” Karl Stoss, chair of the IOC’s future host commission, said at a news conference.

“The commission felt strongly that the other interested parties would benefit from more time to optimize the athlete experience of their future Games, and to continue to build on their burgeoning foundations of public and political support.”

Wednesday’s announcement comes as hosting the Olympics faces growing skepticism. In recent years, hosts have spent billions of dollars beyond their stated budgets, dealt with corruption and struggled with the Olympics’ waning appeal among younger audiences, among other issues.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the city “is prepared for this deep dive” and that she believes it can host a Games “that unify our global community and do so with greater sustainability.”

Think of the next 10 years. Think all the kids headed to our venues after school this afternoon. They are our future! And after today they’re going to be counting on attending the 2034 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games— homegrown from the state of Utah.

We have Olympics in our… pic.twitter.com/SJaiUxkZPD

— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) November 29, 2023

The IOC also said it would enter into a “privileged dialogue” with Switzerland to host the 2038 Olympics.

Why Salt Lake City makes sense to host

It makes sense because Salt Lake City could host the Games next month if they wanted to. The only thing they need to build is housing — and they have a deal to build that with the University of Utah, similar to the deal L.A. has with UCLA. So it’s all privately funded.

Advertisement

Hosting has gotten less appealing because it’s really expensive to build things like a bobsled track, ski jump or speed skating oval that get used so seldomly. These are expensive facilities for niche sports that most people don’t pay any attention to. And so many areas would have to make a ton of snow, like Beijing and South Korea did in 2022 and 2018.

Also, the IOC needs the U.S. audience to ensure another huge media rights deal. The current one with NBC ends in 2032. — Matthew Futterman, senior writer

(Photo: Michael Madrid / USA Today)

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57lGlwcnBjZXxzfJFsZmppX2eGcL%2FApatmpJGgsm6vyK2wZmpgaIFuw8inq56qXaS5urnPopqsZw%3D%3D