It’s official — the Winter Olympic Games are set to return to Salt Lake City in 2034.
A buzzing crowd gathered in Washington Square Park at the wee hours of Wednesday morning, where viewing screens and festivities were set up in anticipation of the announcement. Hundreds of people filled the square, anxiously awaiting the selection and reminiscing about the first time the Games came to the state over 20 years ago.
“There’s just such a great spirit wherever the Olympics are held,” celebration attendee Kari said. Kari, accompanied by her son, Sam, were clad in authentic Salt Lake 2002 torch-bearer gear as they enjoyed the celebration. “We’re so excited for the Olympics to come home and experience that community again.”
The decision was announced around 4:30 a.m. local time following a formal vote by the International Olympic Committee in Paris, France. The committee made a historic vote with 83 for and six against to bring the Games to Utah, one of the highest-favored bids ever by the IOC. Shortly after, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who traveled to Paris for the bid, took to the screen to deliver her remarks following the good news.
“I’m thinking about all of the people back home [in Utah],” she said. “It’s really a moving time for all of us. I’m ready to go cry a little bit!”
The thrilling decision comes after Salt Lake was announced as the IOC’s preferred candidate late last year, all but confirming that the Games were slated to return to Utah. All that was left for organizers to do was to provide the necessary assurances and government contracts before the vote took place — a process that was eased by the fact that Salt Lake has hosted before.
Now that the ink has dried, Salt Lake has the next decade to prepare for the task of hosting. Since the state has hosted before, existing venues from the previous Winter Olympics will be utilized, leaving officials to focus on other improvements in the city’s infrastructure.
“This is a moment of transformation for us, as the capital city and a state,” Mendenhall said. “What we get to do over the next decade is grow community, elevate sport across the globe, and we can’t wait to welcome everybody back.”
