Park City Mayor Ryan Dickey is scheduled to depart for the Winter Olympics in Italy on Tuesday as part of a fact-finding mission with the planning for the Games of 2034 in Utah expected to accelerate.
The mayor is traveling with the state’s Olympic organizing committee as part of an International Olympic Committee observer program. Park City Councilor Tana Toly and Jodi Emery, the acting city manager, are also traveling as part of the official City Hall delegation. City Councilor Bill Ciraco will attend as a private citizen.
Dickey, who has never been to a Winter Olympics or a Summer Olympics, is scheduled to be in Italy until Feb. 21 and is part of a third wave of the observer program. He will be based outside the Italian Alps community of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where some of the competitions will be held, and will stay 45 minutes by bus from the famous mountain resort. Cortina d’Ampezzo is of special interest since it is a mountain resort and some of the plans for the Games in that community have the potential to influence certain aspects of Park City’s plans.
“It’s the most closely proximate to what we’ll be doing in Park City,” the mayor said.
Dickey said he is not attending the Games as a VIP. Instead, the itinerary includes behind-the-scenes study of the operations. A four-hour tour focused on security and transportation is planned, as an example. He said he also plans to attend at least one competition — curling — as a spectator.
The mayor wants to learn how Cortina d’Ampezzo marks the Games outside the competition venues. He plans to visit central Cortina d’Ampezzo to observe the celebration. That, he said, could provide ideas about possibilities for Park City in 2034. Main Street is expected to be a popular place for the crowds to celebrate, as with the 2002 Winter Olympics. Dickey said, though, he does not want to “rinse and repeat 2002” on Main Street. Dickey plans to learn about business trends in Cortina d’Ampezzo as well.
The mayor said the trip also will provide opportunities to build relationships with the 2034 Winter Olympic organizers. He anticipates networking opportunities with the delegations in Italy as well as from the other upcoming Games in Los Angeles, the French Alps and Brisbane, Australia. Dickey hopes there is a meeting with Cortina d’Ampezzo officials and the delegation from Park City’s sister city of Courchevel, France, which will play an important tole in the Winter Olympics in 2030. The Courchevel representatives could provide insight about the final four years of planning, Dickey said.
The municipal government is funding the trips by the mayor, Emery and Toly, including flights, lodging, meals and incidentals. The mayor said there is not yet a cost estimate.
The Games in Italy make up one of two Winter Olympics before 2034. There will also be two Summer Olympics before then. Park City officials will likely attend the upcoming Games for additional research.