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2034 Winter Olympics

"2034 Olympics", "Salt Lake City 2034", and "Salt Lake 2034" redirect here. For the Winter Paralympics, see 2034 Winter Paralympics.

The 2034 Winter Olympics, officially the XXVII Olympic Winter Games, and branded as Salt Lake City–Utah 2034,[a] is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area of Utah, United States, from February 10–26, 2034.

The Future Host Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nominated Salt Lake City–Utah as its preferred candidate on November 29, 2023. The Salt Lake City–Utah bid was approved on July 24, 2024, during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. They will be the fifth Winter Olympics, and tenth overall, to be hosted by the United States; having previously hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City will join St. Moritz, Lake Placid, Innsbruck, and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the fifth city to have hosted or co-hosted multiple Winter Olympic Games.

Bidding process

Further information: Bids for the 2034 Winter Olympics

The new IOC bidding process was approved at the 134th IOC Session on June 24, 2019, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The key proposals, driven by the relevant recommendations from Olympic Agenda 2020, are:[1][2]

  • Establish a permanent, ongoing dialogue to explore and create interest among cities/regions/countries and National Olympic Committees for any Olympic event.
  • Create two Future Host Commissions (Summer and Winter Games) to oversee interest in future Olympic events and report to the IOC executive board.
  • Give the IOC Session more influence by having non-executive board members form part of the Future Host Commissions.

The IOC also modified the Olympic Charter to increase its flexibility by removing the date of election from seven years before the games, and changing the host from a single city/region/country to multiple cities, regions, or countries.

According to the Future Host Commission's rules of conduct, the new IOC bidding system is divided into two dialogue stages:[3]

  • Continuous dialogue involving non-committal discussions between the IOC and interested parties (City/Region/Country/NOC interested in hosting) with regard to hosting future Olympic events.
  • Targeted dialogue with one or more interested parties (called preferred host(s)), as instructed by the IOC Executive Board. This follows a recommendation by the Future Host Commission as a result of continuous dialogue.

Host selection

On November 29, 2023, per the recommendation of the Future Host Commission, the IOC Executive Board invited the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to targeted dialogue, with Salt Lake City—Utah named the preferred host and sole candidate for the 2034 Winter Olympics.[4][5]

During the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on July 24, 2024, Salt Lake City was elected as host of the 2034 Winter Olympics, via a referendum to the 95 IOC delegates.[6]

2034 Winter Olympics host city election
Region NOC name Yes No Abs
Salt Lake City—Utah  United States 83 6 6

WADA vs USADA conflict

Further information: Doping in China

The IOC insisted that Salt Lake City agree that it may "terminate Olympic host city contracts in cases where the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the world antidoping code is hindered or undermined." This was intended to undermine the United States Department of Justice's criminal investigation into the allegations that the World Anti-Doping Agency failed to sanction and covered up drug use by Chinese swimmers.[7][8] However, IOC president Thomas Bach has attempted to alleviate concerns that the city could lose its second Olympics if organizers do not fulfill an agreement to play a peacemaker between anti-doping authorities. Bach downplayed the gravity of a termination clause that the IOC inserted into Salt Lake City's host contract in July.[9]

Development and preparations

The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City had left a strong legacy, with venues constructed for the Games (such as Utah Olympic Park) having continued to host international events and world championships; in the 2013–14 period, Utah hosted 16 winter sports events, contributing $27.3 million to the state economy.[10][11][12] The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee stated in 2022 that it was "already in dialogue with the IOC, not yet for a specific year but as part of their evolving process" over the possibility of Salt Lake City hosting a future Winter Olympics; the Committee had named Salt Lake City its preferred candidate for a future U.S. Winter Olympics in 2022, citing its existing infrastructure.[13][14]

Venues

See also: Venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics
Utah Olympic Park, pictured in 2007, was originally built for the 2002 Games and is scheduled to host several events in 2034

The Games will utilize nearly all the venues originally constructed for the 2002 Winter Olympics,[15][16] but with some exceptions and differences. Alpine skiing will be moved from Deer Valley and Park City to Snowbasin, while curling will be held on a temporary rink at the Salt Palace rather than The Ice Sheet at Ogden. Organizers cited an unwillingness to expand the Ogden venue with temporary seating, as well as a desire to hold the event in Salt Lake City proper to capitalize on the sport's growing American popularity. Big air events will take place at a temporary venue with a capacity for 25,000 people, constructed on the former parking lot of the medal plaza from 2002.[17]

In April 2024, organizing committee president Fraser Bullock stated that he would not rule out the possibility that proposed venues for major league teams in Salt Lake City (such as a baseball stadium in Salt Lake City's west end intended for a prospective Major League Baseball expansion or relocation, or a new arena constructed by a National Hockey League expansion or relocation team) could be used as well, noting that the exact venue plans may evolve as the Games draw closer.[17] Later that month, it was announced that Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith had acquired the hockey operations of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, and would relocate them to Salt Lake City. As part of the relocation, $900 million was earmarked by the city to renovate Delta Center and construct a sports and entertainment district around the arena in a project expected to be completed by October 2027.[18]

Originally, the Delta Center was to host figure skating and short track speed skating. On October 8, 2024, ahead of Utah Hockey Club's inaugural home opener, Smith announced that Delta Center would instead host ice hockey, swapping with the Maverik Center which would get figure skating and short track speed skating instead. Bullock noted that he was "very excited to partner with Ryan and the NHL."[19][20]

Salt Lake City cluster

Venue Events Capacity Status
Rice–Eccles Stadium Opening and Closing Ceremonies 51,444 Existing
Delta Center Ice hockey (main venue) 16,070
Maverik Center Figure skating 10,100
Short track speed skating
Utah Olympic Oval Speed skating 7,500 Existing, renovated
Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron Plaza Snowboarding (big air) 25,000 Temporary
Freestyle skiing (big air)
Salt Palace Curling 6,500 Existing

Ogden Cluster

Venue Events Capacity Status
Snowbasin Resort Alpine skiing 19,000 Existing

Mountain Cluster

Venue Events Capacity Status
Soldier Hollow Biathlon 15,000 Existing, renovated
Cross-country skiing
Nordic combined
Utah Olympic Park Track Bobsleigh 12,000
Luge
Skeleton
Utah Olympic Park Jumps Ski jumping 15,000
Nordic combined
Utah Olympic Park Snowboarding (cross/parallel) 8,000 Existing
Freestyle skiing (cross)
Deer Valley Freestyle skiing (aerials/moguls) 12,000
Park City Snowboarding (halfpipe/slopestyle) 15,000
Freestyle skiing (halfpipe/slopestyle)

Other venues

Venue Events Capacity Status
Peaks Ice Arena, Provo Ice hockey 10,000 Existing, renovated

Broadcasting

On March 13, 2025, Comcast/NBCUniversal announced that it had renewed its long-running rights to the Olympic Games in the United States through 2036, under an agreement valued at US$3 billion. Aside from the extension, Comcast will be partnering with the IOC on providing OBS with support for in-venue distribution as well as collaboration with the IOC on digital advertising opportunities in the US among others.[21] NBCU was reportedly additionally motivated, and willing to pay a slightly higher price than its previous contract, due to the 2034 Winter Olympics being hosted by the United States.[22]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Arapaho: Niico'ooowu' 2034; Gosiute Shoshoni: Tit'-so-pi 2034; Navajo: Sooléí 2034; Shoshoni: Soónkahni 2034

Citations

  1. ^ "Future Olympic Games elections to be more flexible". International Olympic Committee. May 2, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Evolution of the revolution: IOC transforms future Olympic Games elections". International Olympic Committee. June 26, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Future Host Commissions: Terms of Reference" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. October 3, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "SLC named preferred host for '34 Winter Olympics". Sports Business Journal. November 29, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "The French Alps and Salt Lake City-Utah invited into respective Targeted Dialogues to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030 and 2034". International Olympic Committee. November 29, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "What Utah bid leaders did the day after getting the 2034 Winter Olympics". Deseret News. July 25, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Longman, Jeré; Panja, Tariq; Schmidt, Michael S. (July 24, 2024). "Salt Lake Awarded 2034 Olympics Under I.O.C. Pressure Over Doping Inquiries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Mann, Brian (July 24, 2024). "Olympic officials try to crush U.S. probes of China doping, threaten Salt Lake Games". NPR. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Could a doping probe strip Salt Lake City of the 2034 Olympics? The IOC president says it's unlikely". KOCO. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Hesterman, Billy (December 15, 2013). "Winter sports industry crucial to Utah economy". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  11. ^ "Salt Lake City still basking in 2002 Winter Games legacies". olympic.org. January 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  12. ^ Lee, Jasen (February 8, 2012). "Economic impact of 2002 Olympics still felt". KSL.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Salt Lake City gets go-ahead to bid for Winter Olympics". Los Angeles Times. December 2018. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "Officials to meet next week to discuss 2030 Winter Olympic Bid in Salt Lake City". Inside the Games. February 10, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "IOC Feasibility Assessment of Salt Lake City-Utah 2034" (PDF). June 12, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  16. ^ Schoenbaum, Hannah (July 24, 2024). "Winter Olympians will compete at these 13 venues when the Games return to Salt Lake City in 2034". AP News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "New Olympic venues for 2034? Here's what Utah's bid committee is planning for another Winter Games". Deseret News. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  18. ^ "The Delta Center is teed up for major changes. Here's what could come, and when". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "Olympic hockey at the Delta Center? Here are the venue changes for the 2034 Winter Games". Deseret News. October 9, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "Gary Bettman says there are plans to increase capacity at the Delta Center in Utah to 17,000". Sportsnet. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "IOC and Comcast NBCUniversal agree on groundbreaking partnership for the new digital era, including an extension of their Olympic media rights agreement until 2036". International Olympic Committee. March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  22. ^ Carpenter, Les (March 13, 2025). "NBC will spend $3 billion to extend U.S. Olympics rights through 2036". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
Winter Olympics
Preceded by XXVII Olympic Winter Games
Salt Lake City
2034 		Succeeded by
To be determined