The group seeking to host a second Winter Olympics in the state is continuing to prepare for a Games in 2034.
And there has not been any discussion at the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games about the prospects of France saying “Non” to the Winter Olympics of four years earlier and what the implications could be on the state’s bid if that was to occur.
The leadership of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games on Wednesday briefly addressed a scenario, seemingly unlikely, of the French bid for the Games of 2030 essentially collapsing in coming weeks with national elections scheduled in late June and early July. The bid covers the Provence, the Alps and the Côte d’Azur regions.
The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday said the French bid for the Games of 2030 still must deliver a guarantee from the national government. An important IOC figure in the selection of Olympic cities, Future Host Commission chair Karl Stoss, told reporters he anticipates the guarantee will be delivered by the date of the upcoming selection of the cities for the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics, expected just before the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris in July.
It is a bit of late intrigue, though, in a selection process that seemed to be advancing as planned until the French political situation arose. The IOC in November tapped Salt Lake City as the likely host in 2034 and the French bid as likely for 2030. In the months since then, the efforts in the two places have been progressing in anticipation of the selections this summer.
In comments to the media on Wednesday, Fraser Bullock, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, said the organization has not held talks about shifting plans from the Games of 2034 to those of 2030 if the French bid falters.
“100% all in on 2034. It’s the perfect fit for us,” he said. “That’s it. That’s our focus.”
Bullock said he is “cheering them on” as he spoke about the French bid.
The comments about the politics in France were some of the highlights as the IOC and the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games spoke separately on Wednesday. The executive board of the IOC on Wednesday formally recommended the French bid for 2030 and the 2034 Salt Lake City bid. The full IOC will consider the recommendations during a session in Paris in July.
Salt Lake City has long been seen as a top choice for a future Winter Olympics with the venues from the Games of 2002 remaining in operation and broad public support. The question of which event would work best, though, stretched for years as officials at the IOC, national Olympic figures and backers in the state considered options. The event in 2034, rather than the one in 2030, was ultimately pursued as the parties sought to avoid an overlap in fundraising between a Games in Salt Lake City and the 2028 Summer Olympics, which are slated for Los Angeles.
The Park City area would play a key role in a second Games in the state, as was the case in 2002. Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort and the Utah Olympic Park are identified as competition venues on the concept map while the community would also be key to the transportation, security and celebration plans. An IOC delegation spent time in the Park City area in April during an important visit to the state that included tours of proposed venues and meetings with bid officials and government leaders.