Nov. 29, 2023

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The International Olympic Committee Executive Board announced Salt Lake City-Utah is a preferred host for the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in a broadcast from Paris on Wednesday.

The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games will begin the process of providing detailed plans to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2034 as part of the IOC’s targeted dialogue.

“What this means is we’re just one step away from bringing the Winter Games back to Salt Lake City,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “We’re prepared for this deep dive and I believe we can carry out another successful set of Games that unify our global community and do so with greater sustainability.”

During targeted dialogue, the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games will work closely with the IOC and the technical support it provides to review vision, sustainability, legacy, governance, and an economic model.

Strong, local support for bringing back the Olympics and Paralympics to Salt Lake City was on full display Wednesday. Cheers from leaders and community members erupted at the Salt Lake City & County Building as they watched a broadcast of the IOC’s announcement.

Those in attendance included Fraser Bullock, President & CEO of Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Mendenhall, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, State representatives and senators, Salt Lake City Council members, as well as other leaders, mayors, and elected officials from across the Wasatch Front.

“The decision of the IOC to invite Salt Lake City-Utah into Targeted Dialogue as the Preferred Host for 2034 is a credit to our communities working together to create a welcoming region for sport across our state,” said Bullock. “For more than a decade, our state and community leaders have united towards this goal. The IOC has recognized our high level of preparedness, with all venues in place and active, as well as overwhelming support from our political and business leaders.”

Targeted dialogue is a precursor to an invitation to host. In October, the IOC formally ratified the decision to award the 2030 and 2034 Olympics together before the Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympic Games.

Wednesday’s decision follows one week after Mendenhall, Cox, and others from the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games made a final bid presentation to the Future Host Commission on Nov. 21. The IOC Executive Board’s decision to enter targeted dialogue is based on recommendations from the Future Host Commission.

The public is invited to join festivities on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5:45-6:15 p.m. at Cauldron Plaza on the southwest corner of Rice-Eccles Stadium to celebrate Salt Lake City-Utah being well on the path to hosting the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.