Utahns buzzing with Olympic fever over Salt Lake City Olympics bid

KEARNS, Utah — The prospect of Salt Lake City hosting the Winter Olympics again had people buzzing at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Tuesday. Their excitement preceded Monday’s announcement that Salt Lake City was named the “preferred host” for the 2034 Winter Games.

Built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Utah Olympic Oval earned the name “The Fastest Ice on Earth.”

The “Fastest Ice on Earth” has stuck around, decades after the 2002 Games.

According to the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation,

Today, Utah Olympic Oval is a dynamic multi-use facility focused on developing and growing participation in ice sports in the state of Utah.”

Olympic fever ran wild Tuesday night as young Dawgs hockey players and their parents finished up practice.

One hockey parent, Jeremy Clayton, said he doesn’t think it would take much to get the venue ready to host again.

“The Oval is probably … one of the best facilities in the state, ” he said. “I don’t know that kids understand how cool it is to be able to practice in an Olympic facility.”

Another parent, Bree Diverger said people often don’t realize how cool the Olympic Oval is.

“People kind of take it for granted sometimes,” Diverger said. “But when you come in, it’s just a wow factor.”

Many people like the idea of the Games coming back to Utah.

“I’d be excited for it. I think it’d be a good thing for Utah to get the Olympics again. [It] would require some infrastructure to be updated, but I think it’s doable,” said Freddie Wix.

Diverger said she’d absolutely be excited for Salt Lake to host the Winter Olympics once again.