SALT LAKE CITY — Preparations are in full swing for the 2024 Summer Games, but Utah is looking ten more years down the road with hopes to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Fraser Bullock, President and CEO of the Salt Lake-Utah Committee for the Games, can easily visualize how the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium could be used for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
The Salt Lake City stadium was previously used during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
“That was the cauldron that was installed right here back in 2002 and we can still light it,” Bullock said.
Bullock was in Rice-Eccles Stadium for the 2002 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. Thirty-two years later it looks like the stadium will be used again.
“We held opening and closing ceremonies in 2002 and in 2034, it will be a great opportunity to re-host opening and closing ceremonies right here,” Bullock said.
Salt Lake City is the frontrunner in a bid to host the 2034 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already named the city as the preferred host as Salt Lake City is the only city bidding.
Members of the IOC are in Utah this week looking at venues from 2002 that are still in use today.
“Touring all our venues going through every element of our operations,” said Bullock. “We are so excited to host them.”
Salt Lake City has identified 13 venues from 2002 that are still in use and can be used in the 2034 Olympics, after putting millions of dollars aside in 2002 to maintain those venues.
“We have 13 key venues. We utilized them all in 2002 we will utilize most of them again in 2034 assuming we get the bid,” said Bullock. “And one thing about our venues, if anything, they are better.”
Salt Lake City hopes to host Winter Olympics
If Salt Lake City gets the 2034 Olympics, it would be their second Winter Games. While they wouldn’t have to build as much as in 2002, organizers said they have big ideas for 2034.
“In 2002, with the building wraps and at night, they would be light up. It was magical,” said Bullock. “We certainly have those plans, but we’re saying, with technology what more can we do.”
The next big step for Salt Lake City will be the official announcement that they have been awarded the Olympics. That announcement is scheduled for July 24 in Paris, just before the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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