Governor Cox: Confident Olympics Will Return To SLC In 2030 Or 2034
May 9, 2023, 4:03 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah governor Spencer Cox said that his confidence level in bringing the Winter Olympics back to Salt Lake City in 2030 or 2034 is at “99.9 percent.”
The 18th governor of the Beehive State discussed Salt Lake City’s bid for the Games during an interview with Hans Olsen and Scott Garrard on KSL Sports Zone on Tuesday, May 9.
Garrard asked Cox if he could provide his confidence level in landing the Winter Olympics again.
The governor revealed that his confidence level was nearly 100 percent certain. Cox said he believes that the state would be ready for the Games in 2030 if Salt Lake City were to earn an earlier bid. However, 2034 has reportedly been Utah’s more likely opportunity to host the Olympics for the first time since 2002.
RELATED: Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Bid More Likely For 2034
"99.9 percent." – @SpencerJCox on his confidence level in getting the #WinterOlympics back in Utah in 2030 or 2034@KSLSportsZone @KSL5TV
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 9, 2023
Cox believes that a resolution to Salt Lake City’s interest and the IOC’s decision will be known prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The IOC finds Salt Lake City as an appealing landing spot for the Games due to the infrastructure that’s still in place from 2002, according to Cox. The governor added that Utah is North America’s hub for Winter Olympic sports.
To hear Cox’s entire conversation with Olsen and Garrard, listen to the podcast above. Check out Hans & Scotty G on weekdays from 12-3 p.m. (MDT) on KSL Sports Zone.
RELATED STORIES
Salt Lake City 2002
The 2002 Winter Games were held in Salt Lake City, and the surrounding areas from February 8-24 in 2002.
Events for the Games were held across ten competitive venues in downtown Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, and in the mountains near Salt Lake City.
Olympic Venues in Utah
Many venues of past Olympics are torn down, not cared for, or are left abandoned after the Games are over.
All ten venues used for competition during the 2002 Olympics are still in use, making Salt Lake an ideal candidate for future Games.
In 2019, the United States Olympic Committee announced Salt Lake will be its selection for a future Winter Olympics bid.
Celebrating 25 years of #ThisArena with 25 days of iconic moments. Here's a view from 2002 when we played host to the SLC Winter Olympics. pic.twitter.com/WxAXcdTnNI
— Vivint Arena (@vivintarena) October 18, 2016
Deer Valley Resort
- Location: Park City, Utah
- Established: 1930s
- Current Use: Ski Resort
Deer Valley is a ski resort located in Park City, Utah. The resort is 36 miles east of Salt Lake City. During the 2002 Olympics, Deer Valley hosted freestyle moguls, aerial, and alpine slalom events. The resort continues to host international ski competitions.
While the resort is open to the public, Deer Valley is one of three ski resorts in the United States that doesn’t allow snowboarding.
16-year-old Kaila Kuhn lays this one DOWN 👏
📍 @Deer_Valley pic.twitter.com/DFMqHSHXi0
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 8, 2020
Maverik Center (formerly E Center)
- Location: West Valley City, Utah
- Established: September 22, 1997
- Current Use: Ice Hockey/Multi-purpose Arena
The Maverik Center, formerly known as the E Center, is a multi-purpose arena located nearly seven miles southwest of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. During the 2002 Games, the E Center hosted ice hockey events.
The E Center was renamed to Maverik Center in 2010.
Currently, the Maverik Center is the home to a minor league hockey club named the Utah Grizzlies. The arena also hosts other events such as concerts.
Back to back to back goals! This time it's Dickinson with helpers from Molino and Lewis!
Utah 4 | Tulsa 2#WeTheGrizz #GoGrizzGo 🐻🏒 pic.twitter.com/qEHyUQXKyA
— Utah Grizzlies (@UtahGrizzlies) February 12, 2020
Park City Mountain Resort
- Location: Park City, Utah
- Established: December 21, 1963, as Treasure Moutain
- Current Use: Ski/Snowboard Resort
Park City Mountain Resort is a ski/snowboard resort located in Park City, Utah. The resort is 32 miles east of Salt Lake City.
During the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, Park City Mountain Resort hosted snowboarding and alpine giant slalom events.
The resort contains slalom and giant slalom training courses used by the U.S. Ski Team.
In 2014, Park City Mountain Resort merged with nearby Canyons Resort to create one of the largest resorts in the United States.
Happy #tbt! We're throwing it back to the 2002 Olympics in #ParkCity & looking forward to the #ParkCityGP tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/cfWCY7bnNh
— Park City Mountain (@PCski) January 16, 2014
The Peaks Ice Arena
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Established: November 20, 1998
- Current Use: Ice Hockey/Figure Skating Arena
Peaks Ice Arena is an indoor ice hockey and figure skating arena in Provo, Utah. The arena is 43 miles south of Salt Lake City.
It was built alongside West Valley City’s E Center as an ice hockey and figure skating venue for the 2002 Olympics.
The arena is currently used as a public skating rink and the home of several local hockey teams including BYU men’s hockey and local high school teams.
View this post on Instagram
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Established: October 4, 1991, as the Delta Center
- Current Use: Basketball/Multi-purpose Arena
Vivint Arena, soon to be renamed the Delta Center, is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.
Due to commercial naming rights, the arena was referred to as the Salt Lake Ice Center during the 2002 Olympics.
During the Salt Lake Games, the area hosted figure skating and short track speed skating events.
Vivint Smart Home Arena has been the home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz since 1991. The arena hosts other events such as concerts and other sporting events.
In 2017, the arena underwent a $125 million renovation.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics #ThisArena turned into the Salt Lake Ice Center, hosting figure skating and short track speed skating events pic.twitter.com/O6IKtV0hUF
— Vivint Arena (@vivintarena) September 21, 2016
Snowbasin
- Location: Mount Ogden, Weber County, Utah
- Established: 1939
- Current Use: Ski/Snowboard Resort
Snowbasin is a ski/snowboard resort located in Weber County, Utah. The resort is 33 miles northeast of Salt Lake City.
During the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, Snowbasin hosted alpine skiing for downhill, super-G, and combined races.
Opened in 1939, Snowbasin is one of the oldest continually operating ski resorts in the U.S.
17 years ago on this day, Fritz Strobl of Austria won Gold on the Grizzly Downhill in the 2002 Winter Olympics! ⛷🎿@SLC2030 pic.twitter.com/KiwGMWt9RZ
— Snowbasin Resort (@SnowbasinResort) February 10, 2019
Soldier Hollow
- Location: Wasatch Mountain State Park, Wasatch County, Utah
- Established: January 5, 2001
- Current Use: Cross-Country Ski Venue
Soldier Hollow is a cross-country ski venue located in Wasatch Mountain State Park in Wasatch County, Utah. The venue is 53 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Soldier Hollow hosted cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events.
Since the Games in 2002, the venue has been used for cross-country skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing. During the summer, Soldier Hollow is used for mountain biking and golfing.
In 2002 the biathlon events of the Salt Lake City Winter @Olympics were held in @soldier_hollow — now we return to Utah and it's high planes and rolling mountains #SOHO19
Follow the women's sprint live on https://t.co/bk5aBBso9Q pic.twitter.com/dENeb07kup
— BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon (@IBU_WC) February 14, 2019
The Ice Sheet at Ogden
- Location: Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
- Established: April 1994
- Current Use: Curling/Ice Hockey/Figure Skating Training Center
The Ice Sheet at Ogden, also known as the Weber County Ice Sheet, is located on the Weber State University Campus in Ogden, Utah. The Ice Sheet originally opened as a recreational training center in 1994. The facility is located 35 miles north of Salt Lake City.
In 2002, the Ice Sheet at Ogden was used in the Olympics for curling events.
The facility continues to host curling events as well as public skating, hockey, figure skating, speed skating, and ice shows.
The Ice Sheet is home to multiple hockey teams. The junior ice hockey team, the Ogden Mustangs as well as Weber State’s men’s hockey teams both play at the Ice Sheet at Ogden.
The Archives have set up a display of images and artifacts from the 2002 Winter Olympics in the @StewartLibrary atrium and Archives reading room. One of the many pictures is of Team USA competing in curling at the @WeberStateU Ogden Ice Sheet. pic.twitter.com/fzGZmgAute
— WSU Archives (@WSUArchives) January 23, 2018
Utah Olympic Oval
- Location: Kearns, Utah
- Established: February 2001
- Current Use: Indoor Speed Skating Oval
The Utah Olympic Oval is an indoor skating facility located in Kearns, Utah. The oval is 14 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
The facility hosted long track speed skating events during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
During the 2002 Games, ten Olympic records and nine world records were set at the Utah Olympic Oval. It was the largest number of world records ever set during one event.
The U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team is currently headquartered at the Oval in Kearns.
The special needs hockey team, the North Utah Grizzlies, calls the Utah Olympic Oval home.
We were honored and excited this morning to welcome the USOC out to the Oval to show them what we have to offer a future Olympic Winter Games. The Oval is a lasting symbol of the legacy of the 2002 Games and we hope we’ll be able to host future Olympic events! #UtahOlympicOval pic.twitter.com/2T80YsVBSs
— Utah Olympic Oval (@UtahOlympicOval) November 14, 2018
Utah Olympic Park
- Location: Park City, Utah
- Established: January 9, 1993 (Ski jumps), January 25, 1997 (Track)
- Current Use: Winter Sports Park
The Utah Olympic Park is a winter sports park located in Park City, Utah. The park is 28 miles east of Salt Lake City.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Utah Olympic Park hosted skeleton, bobsleigh, luge, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events.
Currently, the venue is used as a training facility for Olympic and developing athletes.
US Womens ski jumping practice at @UtahOlympicPark 1st year women will compete at Olympics. #Sochi2014 @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/EYB8EfptSU
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) December 26, 2013
Six other venues were used for non-competitive events. Those venues included the Main Media Center (located in the Salt Palace Convention Center), Olympic Medals Plaza, Olympic Village, Park City Main Street, Rice-Eccles Stadium, and Salt Lake Olympic Square.
