Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City–Utah 2034: Top facts you need to know about the host
Discover what you need to know about the newly elected host of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Salt Lake City–Utah 2034.
The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are returning to Salt Lake City in 2034.
That was confirmed when the 142nd IOC Session elected Salt Lake City–Utah 2034 as the host of the XXVII Olympic Winter Games and accompanying Paralympic Winter Games on Wednesday (24 July).
When the Games take place, 32 years will have passed since the city hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2002.
The 2034 Games have the ambition to extend the benefits of the 2002 Games to a new generation, offering a top experience for athletes and visitors alike in state-of-the-art venues.
Here are some key facts you need to know about the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Salt Lake City–Utah 2034.
Salt Lake City–Utah 2034: When will the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games take place?
The Olympic Winter Games 2034 are proposed to occur from 10–26 February 2034. The Paralympic Winter Games would follow from 10–19 March 2034.
This will be the fifth Olympic Winter Games held in the United States and first since the same city hosted in 2002.
What are the proposed venues for the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City–Utah 2034?
The venue master plan for Salt Lake City–Utah sees every competition venue located within an hour of the Olympic Village at the University of Utah campus. For the first time, an Olympic host is also proposing to offer an Athlete Family Village to house close relatives of the competitors.
Of the proposed venues, all are existing or temporary, with 10 having been previously used in 2002. No additional transport or housing infrastructure is being built for the 2034 Games.
Extra accommodation for biathlon and cross-country skiing athletes will be located near Soldier Hollow. Plus, venues will be highly accessible, in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Salt Lake City Zone: Curling and International Broadcast Centre / Main Press Centre (Salt Palace Convention Center), Figure skating / Short track speed skating (Salt Lake Ice Center), big air events (Block 85), Ice hockey arena I (Maverik Center), Speed skating (Utah Olympic Oval), Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Rice-Eccles Stadium), Olympic Village (University of Utah)
- Wasatch Back (Mountain) Zone: Freestyle skiing and snowboarding (Deer Valley Resort, Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain), Ski jumping and Nordic combined ski jumping (Utah Olympic Park), sliding sports (Utah Olympic Park), Biathlon, Cross-country skiing and Nordic combined cross-country skiing (Soldier Hollow)
- Stand-alone venues: Alpine skiing (Snowbasin Resort), Ice hockey arena II (Peaks Ice Arena, Provo)
Salt Lake City–Utah 2034 will make use of venues used in 2002, including biathlon and cross-country skiing at Soldier Hollow.
Salt Lake City–Utah 2034: Building on Salt Lake City 2002
The 2034 Games will build on a successful legacy created by the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Salt Lake City 2002.
Thanks to the 2002 Games, well-connected communities, organisations and programmes already exist in Utah. These include the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, which involves youth in winter sport through camps and development programmes, and the Youth Sports Alliance, which was formed in 2002 as part of an effort to increase the number of children from Utah's Summit and Wasatch Counties taking part in winter sports.
Utah and Salt Lake City are hoping to strengthen and increase the impact of these organisations to support current athletes and the next generation.
Utah is the youngest state in the U.S. by average age at 31, and Salt Lake City is expected to double in downtown population in the three years between 2022 and 2025.
Additionally, Salt Lake City–Utah 2034 has a "One Event, Two Games" concept, positioning itself as a top destination for para sports. In 2002, it was the first time both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games had the same single Organising Committee.
Deer Valley Resort, which hosted freestyle skiing and Alpine skiing slalom in 2002, will be a venue again in 2034.
Sustainability at Salt Lake City–Utah 2034
Salt Lake City–Utah 2034 expects to align its sustainability strategy with local and regional government plans to conserve water and reduce carbon emissions.
With no new construction required in the master plan, Salt Lake City–Utah can focus on supporting communities, venues, partners and others in accelerating action on climate.
Both Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain will be almost entirely powered through solar energy beginning 2024, with the city of Salt Lake City aiming to achieve net 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 thanks to the same solar farm.
Which athletes are supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Salt Lake City–Utah 2034?
Top athletes who have thrown their voices behind Salt Lake City–Utah 2034 include Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who is the Chair of Athlete Experience for Salt Lake City–Utah 2034, in addition to Olympic medallists Erin Jackson and Derek Parra and bobsleigh athlete Kaysha Love.
Paralympic medallists Brittani Coury and Chris Waddell are supporters, alongside para cross country skier Dani Aravich. 3X3 basketball player Jimmer Fredette, who will compete at Paris 2024 as part of the USA men’s team, is also backing the Games.
Athlete experience and encouraging future generations is a key focus for Salt Lake City–Utah 2034, and its bid committee was led by speed skater Catherine Raney Norman.