On Wednesday, November 29, the International Olympic Committee named Salt Lake City as the preferred host of the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
During a global announcement, which was broadcast in downtown Salt Lake City, IOC officials pointed to several factors that helped Utah stand out: a very compact master and sports plan; experience in hosting major global events; strong youth sports programs; exceptional public support; the highest level of national, state and city government support; the fact Salt Lake City already hosted a successful Olympic Winter Games; no capital investment required; and the community’s ability to raise money.
“Today’s important step in securing another Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City will help shape the next decade in our state and speaks to the incredible momentum building in Utah,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company and Vice Chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. “In Utah, we embrace a big vision and strive to do things in a way that unifies and builds the community. The return of the Olympic Games, along with our pursuit of a major league baseball expansion franchise, are exciting opportunities, and I am confident Utah is up to the task.”
“Our family helped host the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and it feels like it’s coming full circle,” said Steve Miller, chair of the Larry H. Miller Company and member of the Utah Olympic Bid Executive Committee. “This is very similar to our family’s other sports endeavors, including buying the Utah Jazz and building the Delta Center, purchasing the Salt Lake Bees franchise and constructing a new Triple-A ballpark, and now working to bring an MLB expansion team to Utah. There is something magical about Utah and the people who lead and live here.”
Miller and Starks lead the Big League Utah (BLU) Coalition, which is positioning Salt Lake City as Major League Baseball’s next expansion market. BLU calls Utah a 5-Tool Player when it comes to key reasons a Major League team should come to the Beehive State: the fastest growing state; the nation’s best economy; the crossroads of the west with a preferred, shovel-ready site; a state of sport—highlighted by the IOC announcement; and a vibrant quality of life.
During the press conference following the IOC announcement, Fraser Bullock, President and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, said, “Utah is ready, willing and able. We have great support. We have a fantastic team. These guys are relentless in their work.” We feel the same about Big League Utah!
Read more about the announcement:
NBC Sports
SL Tribune
KSL Sports
