The people behind SLC’s bid for 2034 Olympic games can finally celebrate
Jul 24, 2024, 9:35 AM
The Olympic rings and cauldron from the 2002 Winter Games are pictured at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Now that SLC is officially hosting the 2034 Winter Olympic games, those who made it possible are taking a step back to celebrate. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Now that Salt Lake City is officially hosting the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games, those who made it possible are taking a step back to celebrate.
Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City Organizing Committee President and CEO Fraser Bullock and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn were in Paris on Wednesday representing Salt Lake City.
Vonn told KSL TV this announcement feels just as big as winning a World Cup.
Related: Social media reacts to Salt Lake City’s 2034 Olympic announcement
“I give my heart and soul into everything I do,” she said. “I really worked hard for this alongside everyone on the team … Fraser cried on stage. We care … It feels amazing (and) just as good as any victory I’ve had.”
Bullock told KSL TV he “wasn’t nervous for a second,” while waiting for the announcement Wednesday.
“I was just sitting there calm and ready to go because our bid is so strong that I just want to be able to share it with the world,” he said. “Now that we have the games, we’re (experiencing) joy, and being able to welcome the world as Utah uniquely can is so special … We will absolutely celebrate this here (in Paris) and back at home.”
Bullock told KSL NewsRadio’s Tim Hughes, the announcement left him with “a little bit of relief and a ton of joy”
“It’s ours, it’s coming … We’ve all been hoping and fingers crossed, but now it’s real,” he said.
Utah leaders celebrating the announcement of 2034 Olympic games
Mendenhall said in an interview with KSL TV she is excited to bring the Olympics back to Salt Lake City.
“I am so confident in who we are as a city and as a state ready to welcome the globe back,” she said. “We keep saying we could host the games right now, but the exciting part is we get 10 years. Not to build facilities, necessarily, but to build our community (and) to help our kids imagine themselves on that podium … It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity.”
Cox said to KSL NewsRadio’s Tim Hughes this announcement is only the beginning and there is much more to come.
“We get this moment in between all the work that went into the bid and the work that’s going into host the Olympics where we get to celebrate. We’re so excited,” he said. “Team Utah has been unified and we’re bringing it home. It’s actually happening.”
Devin Oldroyd is a digital content producer for KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on X.
