Representatives of the group seeking a Winter Olympics in the state made a presentation on Tuesday to the Future Host Commission of the International Olympic Committee, covering some of the highlights of the Salt Lake City bid for a second Games.
The presentation on Tuesday was delivered amid a key stretch as the IOC prepares in coming months to select the host of the Winter Olympics in 2030 and, possibly, the Games of four years later. Salt Lake City is seen as a leading candidate for one of the events. The presentation was also given just days before the Executive Board of the IOC is scheduled to meet in Paris with the Games of 2030 and 2034 expected to be discussed by the leadership of the Lausanne, Switzerland-based organization. The IOC is expected to award the Games of 2030 in the summer with an award of the 2034 event also possible at the same time.
The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games delivered a 45-minute remote presentation on Tuesday to the Future Host Commission. Gov. Spencer Cox and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall were included. Lindsey Vonn, an Olympic champion skier who lives in the Park City area, was the only person with direct local ties to present on Tuesday. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee also participated.
The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games released a summary of the presentation later on Tuesday, describing that the speakers covered some of the key points in the effort. They touched on the readiness of Salt Lake City and the wider region for a Games, the area’s infrastructure and the region’s winter-sports legacy. The summary says there are “plans in place for every venue” and there is “strong political and public support.”
“Our world-class venue infrastructure, strong relationships with both political and business leadership plus the spirit of the people of Salt Lake City and across Utah have provided us with a strong platform of Games preparedness. Led by Governor Cox, Mayor Mendenhall, Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn and our USOPC partners, we showcased that today to the IOC Future Host Commission. We are hopeful for a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board next week,” Fraser Bullock, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, said in a prepared statement on Tuesday.
The Executive Board of the IOC is scheduled to meet Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Paris. The Future Host Commission, which holds an important role in the selection process, is scheduled to give a presentation to the Executive Board during the Paris meetings.
The Park City area would play an outsized role in a second Winter Olympics in the state, as was the case during the Games of 2002. Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort and the Utah Olympic Park are identified as important competition venues on the concept map for another Games. Park City and surrounding Summit County would also be crucial to the transportation, security and celebration planning. City Hall and the County Courthouse are each heavily involved in the efforts.