Honoring Our Legacy
The Olympics and Paralympics are in the heart, soul, and DNA of Salt Lake City. In 2002, Utah became the 5th state in the U.S. to host the Games, generating unity, pride, and healing that stretched across the Globe. The 2002 Games would leave an everlasting legacy in the central character of Salt Lake City. For over 20 years, stories of champions who competed in the “Greatest Snow on Earth” have been recited by proud residents who are eager to welcome the Games, the spirit of competition, and the global community once again. Read more about Salt Lake City’s Olympic and Paralympic journey below.
IOC delegation visits Salt Lake City
In April 2024, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visited Salt Lake City, Kearns, Park City, and Ogden to explore potential venues for the 2034 Winter Games, including the Delta Center, the Salt Palace, the Utah Olympic Oval, Snowbasin, Deer Valley, and Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. As part of the bid proposal, the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games also identified a downtown location, Block 85, to host big air skiing and snowboarding. You can read more about the IOC’s visit here.
Salt Lake City-UT submits bid for 2034 Winter Games
The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games officially submitted the bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on February 29, 2024.
Included in the 5,000-page Preferred Host Submission were Salt Lake’s Games vision and concept along with site plans, sustainability studies and financial information.
Federal, state, and local government guarantees and venue use, lodging, and marketing rights agreements will be submitted in late March.
The IOC’s Future Host Commission is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City in early April to tour venues and evaluate preparations before submitting a report to the Executive Board which will determine if the bid should be put to a vote by the full membership.
Salt Lake City-UT is the Preferred Host for 2034 Winter Games
On November 29, 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Salt Lake City-Utah as the preferred host for the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, in a broadcast from Paris. This is anticipated to be the final phase of our bid journey to welcome the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Salt Lake City!
“We are one step closer to welcoming athletes, champions, and our neighbors from across the world to experience the Greatest Snow on Earth,” said Mayor Mendenhall. “The endless opportunities for Salt Lake City will only magnify over the coming years as we prepare to host the world again. I am especially excited for our youth—our homegrown athletes—who are training in our legacy facilities and venues as we speak.”
The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games will work closely with the IOC in “targeted dialogue” over the next several months to confirm a vision and roadmap to deliver a sustainable, equitable, and volunteer-driven Games. In July of 2024, host cities for 2030 and 2034 will be announced simultaneously. Stay tuned!
Igniting Dreams, Inspiring Future Champions of Tomorrow
To commemorate the IOC’s announcement of SLC becoming a preferred host for 2034, the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, elected officials, former and future Olympians and Paralympians, and members of the community gathered to celebrate and witness the lighting of the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Games in 2034 can bring Salt Lake City, the state of Utah, and the world together. The lighting of the Cauldron is igniting BIG dreams in our community, especially for our youth—our future leaders and champions of tomorrow. You can read more about the celebration here.
Building Our Case
Leading up to the IOC’s preferred host announcement, the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games presented a bid to host the 2034 Games to the IOC’s Future Host Commission on Nov. 21, 2023. The proposal emphasized Salt Lake City’s and Utah’s strengths, abilities, and values of partnership, strategic collaboration, sustainability, volunteerism, and community.
During the bid presentation, Mayor Mendenhall highlighted the unifying and transformative opportunities that come from hosting a future Games. “The Olympics and Paralympics are an important catalyst for our community, encouraging all generations and identities to dream big. The Games are especially important for our youth—the future leaders of tomorrow.”
Read more about the bid here.
The Hoberman Arch
In August 2023, the Hoberman Arch of the 2002 Winter Games was unveiled at the Salt Lake City International Airport, becoming a permanent public art display to greet travelers and celebrate Salt Lake City’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy.
“The Hoberman Arch deserves to be displayed as part of our City’s history, legacy, and bright future—its magnitude is a lens for us to envision hosting a future Winter Games,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
The Arch was an iconic feature of the Medals Plaza in 2002. It was designed by Chuck Hoberman and reassembled by Gordon Huether, the artist behind additional masterpieces at the Airport, including the Canyon and the Falls. Huether and his team restored and assembled more than 4,000 individual pieces to bring the Arch back to life. You can read more about the Hoberman Arch’s design and assembly here.
Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary
In February 2022, Salt Lakers celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 2002 Games. The Cauldron at Rice-Eccles Stadium was lit once again in honor of our Olympic and Paralympic pride. Local competitions, parades, and events took place throughout the community and at our legacy facilities to commemorate the anniversary. The 2002 Games left an undeniable legacy and continue to be praised today throughout the City and State.
Creating the SLC-Utah Committee for the Games
In Mayor Mendenhall’s first two months in office, she coordinated with state partners to announce the creation of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. This committee is tasked to direct Salt Lake City’s bid proposal to host a future Games.
USOC Announces Preference for SLC
Members of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) traveled to Salt Lake City to visit legacy venue sites and engage with Salt Lake City’s exploratory committee to host a future Games. Following the site visits, the Committee announced Salt Lake City as their preference to bid for a future Games, outperforming other cities such as Denver and Reno. You can read more about the USOC announcement here.
Exploratory Committee Created
In October 2017, Salt Lake City took its first official step to host another Winter Olympics and Paralympics through the launch of an “exploratory committee.”
The 2002 Games
The XIX Winter Games were held February 8th – 24th with more than 2,400 athletes from 78 nations. Winter champions competed in 78 events, including the first-ever women’s bobsleigh competition.
Since 2002, we have hosted 175 international winter sports events. On average, more than 30 countries and 1,100 international athletes train for the Olympics and Paralympics in Utah each year.
Because Salt Lake City is home to the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” and our existing world-class facilities are built for winter champions, the City is exceptionally prepared to host another Olympic and Paralympic Games.