Park City Mayor Nann Worel’s upcoming trip to the Summer Olympics is projected to cost $12,000 in taxpayer money, City Hall said midweek, likely the first in a series of official Games-related outings over the next decade.
The municipal government provided the information in a communications to the elected officials drafted in anticipation of a Park City Council meeting scheduled on Thursday. It was not clear at the end of the week whether the mayor and City Council will discus the dollar figure or the trip at the meeting.
Worel is slated to travel to Paris as part of the delegation from Utah. She has never attended a Summer Olympics or a Winter Olympics. She plans to leave July 20 and return July 29. The International Olympic Committee is widely expected to award the Games of 2034 to Salt Lake City during meetings on the eve of this year’s Summer Olympics. The mayor intends to attend the IOC meetings and observe the first days of the Games in a fact-finding role. Worel, in her role as the mayor, represents Park City’s interests in the Olympic efforts.
The $12,000 is designed to fund a coach-class airline ticket and what is described as a basic hotel room. It will also be put toward expenses such as mileage between Park City and the Salt Lake City airport, parking and a per diem.
The City Council earlier set aside $75,000 in the current budget year for Olympic-related expenses like travel, studies and consultant work.
It seems almost certain City Hall will send officials to future Games as part of the preparations for 2034. There was significant travel in the years before the 2002 Winter Olympics, with Park City having an on-the-ground presence during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and the Summer Olympics of 2000 in Sydney.
“Historically, Park City officials traveled on all official Olympic delegation trips leading up to the 2002 Winter Olympics. This was an important element to ensuring Park City retained its jurisdictional representation, strong relationships, and coordinated with applicable local, state, federal, and international officials,” says the City Hall communications, drafted by Michelle Downard, the municipal resident advocate.
Worel recently said she wants to “experience what visitors do” while she is at the Summer Olympics, such as learning about how the typical spectator navigates the Games.
There is expected to be a contingent from the state in Paris, including the official delegation and those who travel independently. Malena Stevens, the chair of the Summit County Council, is also scheduled to travel to the Summer Olympics at taxpayer expense.
The awarding of the Games of 2034 is predicted to occur on July 24, a date celebrated as Pioneer Day in the state. The Park City area would have an large role in a Games, as was the case in 2002. Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort and the Utah Olympic Park are identified on the map of competition venues. The area would also be crucial to the transportation, security and celebration plans.