UTAH'S MORNING NEWS

Bill would give lawmakers more oversight of Utah’s Olympic bid

Feb 15, 2023, 10:00 PM | Updated: Feb 16, 2023, 8:45 am

Utah lawmakers are seeking to have more oversight into Utah's Olympic bid. It all centers around li...

FILE: Utah lawmakers are seeking to have more oversight into Utah's Olympic bid. It all centers around liability. (FABRICE COFFRINI /AFP/AFP via Getty Images)

(FABRICE COFFRINI /AFP/AFP via Getty Images)

Utah Olympic Bid CEO Fraser Bullock joins Utah’s Morning News live, listen below! 

 

 

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers are seeking to have more oversight into Utah’s Olympic bid. It all centers around liability. 

“It is something though, that the state has liability for,” said House Speaker Brad Wilson (R-Kaysville) to KSL NewsRadio.

CEO of the Utah Olympic Committee Fraser Bullock joined Utah’s Morning News Wednesday to help sort out the meaning of H.B.430. If approved, the bill would create the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Winter Committee. 

Bullock was asked if this is an unneeded layer that may make for complicated negotiations.

“Actually not,” Bullock said. “We think it’s a great step because really what this comes down to, we have a different business model than the rest of the world for hosting the Games, where we don’t utilize any Utah taxpayer money.”

Utah’s Olympic bid and liability

Bullock says the International Olympic Committee requires that there be a guarantor. He says the state is the guarantor, and as such technically has some liability.

“But we have so much contingency built in our budget that we don’t believe in any stretch of the imagination that would ever be used,” he said. “But there’s that technical liability.”

Bullock says before the bill would be signed by the governor; lawmakers would receive a final report from the Utah Olympic Committee to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

“It’s a very prudent thing to do,” Bullock said.

After that, the committee would be giving lawmakers a report every six months, Bullock said.

“So, it’s not as if they’re in there with oversight, managing the games,” he said. “It’s really this key element and key timing so that they know what they’re signing up for.”

Is it Salt Lake City’s or Utah’s Games?

Bullock was asked if he views the Games as Salt Lake City’s or Utah’s.

“It’s all of Utah. We want all of Utah to participate,” he said. “So, we see it as both and they’re both fantastic.”

Bullock was also asked if he expected to get pushback on this from lawmakers from the southern part of the state.

“I don’t think so because one of the things we try to do is involved every element of the state,” Bullock said. “Particularly in something like the torch relay.”

The Deseret News reports the H.B. 430 was introduced last week by Rep. Jon Hawkins (R-Pleasant Grove).

Related reading: Utahns agree: Bring the Olympics (and world) back to Utah

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah's Morning News

Image of home thermostat. Many Americans find it difficult to pay for energy bills in 2023....

Carlos Artiles Fortun and Don Brinkerhoff

Survey shows many Americans find it difficult to pay for energy bills in 2023

More than 1 in 3 Americans report they find it difficult to pay for energy bills, here is what you can do if you are struggling.

20 days ago

Image shows a pile of Legos. A Utah couple participates in a national Lego building contest....

Emma Keddington

Utah couple to compete in Lego Masters

The Utah couple will compete on Season Four of the national television show Lego Masters.

2 months ago

ABC's Matt Gutman has struggled with panic attacks for years. His new book explores his journey wit...

Amanda Dickson

ABC’s Matt Gutman on panic attacks as a war correspondent

ABC's Matt Gutman has struggled with panic attacks for years. Now, he's sharing his story in a new book being released.

3 months ago

Americans living paycheck to paycheck...

Don Brinkerhoff & Carlos Artiles Fortun

Paycheck to paycheck is the reality for 64% of Americans living in the west

New research says the percentage of Americans living paycheck to paycheck is up, many Utahans agree.

3 months ago

FILE - Former President Donald Trump waves as he steps off his plane at Ronald Reagan Washington Na...

Amanda Dickson

What happens if former President Trump is convicted of any crime?

What happens to former President Trump if he's convicted? What is he wins reelection? Our experts answered your burning questions.

4 months ago

First Amendment rights don't guarantee free speech in a public meeting....

Amanda Dickson

Dickson: No First Amendment rights to yell in city council meetings

Are your First Amendment rights guaranteed in a public meeting? It's not so simple. Let's walk through the law.

7 months ago

Sponsored Articles

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Human hand holding a protest banner stop vaping message over a crowded street background....

Prosperous Utah Communities

Utah’s Battle to Protect Youth from Vaping Epidemic Faces New Threat as Proposed Rule Threatens Progress

Utah's strict standards of nicotine levels in vaping products are at risk, increasing health hazards associated with use. Read more about how you can advocate for a better future for Utah's youth.

Aerial photo of Bear Lake shoreline with canopies and people camped out on the beach...

Visit Bear Lake

Last-Minute Summer Vacation Planning? Check Out Bear Lake!

Bear Lake is the perfect getaway if you are last-minute summer vacation planning. Enjoy activities with your whole family at this iconic lake.

Bill would give lawmakers more oversight of Utah’s Olympic bid