Salt Lake 2034 Winter Olympic Bid Goes to IOC Vote in July

Salt Lake City will be presented to the full International Olympic Committee membership for a vote to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games after the IOC Executive Board accepted the Future Host Commission’s recommendations on Wednesday.

The 2030 Games bid from the French Alps region was also approved for a vote next month. Both bids have been in targeted dialogue with the IOC since November 2023 and expected to be rubber stamped by members in Paris on July 24, which is Utah’s state holiday.

“Our community has continued to step forward and show their belief in the Olympic movement,” SLC-UT Committee for the Games Chair Catherine Raney-Norman said. “Over the past 20 years we have remained steadfast in that effort.”

Hosting the Olympic Games in 2034 would make Salt Lake City the fifth city to host the Winter Games twice, joining Lake Placid, New York (1932 and 1980); St. Moritz, Switzerland (1928 and 1948); Innsbruck, Austria (1964 and 1976) and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, which hosted the 1956 Games and will co-host the 2026 Games with Milan.

“I think Salt Lake City would be ready to start the Olympic Winter Games tomorrow,” said Karl Stoss, head of the IOC Future Host Commission. “But they have still time until 2034 and we are looking forward to seeing all our friends in Paris for the election.

An operating budget of $2.83 billion in 2034 values has been established for the 2034 Games by the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, organizers revealed Monday as part of an overall $3.99 billion budget that includes revenue sharing with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, sponsorship fulfillment, sales costs and legacy funding.

“This is a monumental step forward for us,” SLC-UT Committee for the Games President and Chief Executive Officer Fraser Bullock. “Having the confidence and the vote of the IOC EB … to put us forward to be considered by the entire IOC membership on July 24, we are thrilled. We are extremely grateful for the confidence in us to welcome the world to Utah.”

The budget was provided to the International Olympic Committee as part of SLC-UT 2034’s response to the Future Host Questionnaire that was submitted in February. Organizers also hope to leave $260 million in legacy funding for sport and youth programs and organizations including the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, which was set up originally with surplus revenues from the 2002 Games, and the Utah Sports Commission.

Wednesday’s executive board action was the next step after IOC toured the Salt Lake region in mid-April. The IOC’s earlier feasibility study on the Salt Lake bid praised its 2002 legacy, including 100 percent use of existing venues that were used in 2002 and still maintained with all venues within an hour of the athlete village at the University of Utah. The 2034 venue plan includes all three Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation venues and no new venue construction with even an anticipated 40% increase in events.

Stoss said the French bid for 2030 was subject to a commitment to deliver all outstanding guarantees between now and the IOC Session. Some document with guarantees could not be delivered before Wednesday’s executive board meeting after the recent dissolution of France’s National Assembly that forced a June 30 election with a possible second round on July 7. The IOC Executive Board also proposed seven sports for the 2030 initial sports program: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing. That will also be put to an IOC membership vote in July.