SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday gave enthusiastic support to a decades-long effort to bring back the Winter Olympics in Utah's capital in 2034.
Unlike many other past host locations that have decided that bringing back the Olympics isn't worth the time, money and effort, Salt Lake City remains one of the few places where Olympic fever still burns strong. Olympic officials praise city For preserving the facility and maintaining the public's enthusiasm and launching the final visit for 2019. official announcement Expected in July this year.
From the towering cauldron overlooking the valley to the Olympic emblem engraved on manhole covers downtown, reminders of the 2002 Winter Olympics are all over the city.Upon exiting the airport, visitors are shown an unmissable arch amidst snow-capped mountains they are about to enter the olympic city.
These debris are part of a long-term strategy that Utah leaders launched shortly after the first Olympics, and that the Olympics are part of Utah's fabric and that it is proud to be the host city. This is to remind residents that.
Olympic officials said Wednesday was greeted with so much excitement that they felt the 2002 Winter Olympics might not be over yet.
In the decades since Salt Lake City first opened its neighborhood slopes to world-class winter athletes, the pool of potential hosts has shrunk dramatically. Sports spectacles are notorious gold mines; climate change The number of sites you can host has been reduced.
Despite being embroiled in a bribery scandal that nearly derailed the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City has regained the favor of its Olympic committee and is increasingly relying on its passionate community as its options dwindle. The city is now a front-runner if authorities eventually organize. Permanent rotation of host citiesChristophe Dubi, Director-General of the Olympic Games Secretariat, told reporters.
“We are in an environment here where we look for opportunities rather than concerns,” Dubi said. “For the next 10 years, we are not thinking about what is difficult, but what are the opportunities to work together.”
What was left of the committee was Only 2 bidding cities The 2022 competition will be held in Beijing, China, and Almaty, Kazakhstan, after several European candidates abstained due to financial, political and public concerns.
“The International Olympic Committee needs Salt Lake City more than Salt Lake City needs the International Olympic Committee, the Olympics,” said Jules Boykoff, a professor of sports and politics at the University of the Pacific.
For Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, securing the bid is central to his goal of cementing his state as the winter sports capital of North America.
Cox continued state leaders' long-standing push to attract professional sports leagues and welcome international events like last year. NBA All Star Game This could help dispel the persistent prejudice that Utah is a strange and deeply religious place, while also enhancing its image as a sports and tourism mecca.
About half of the state's 3.4 million residents and the majority of state leaders belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church.
Dave Lunt, a historian at Southern Utah University who teaches about the Olympics, said the Games give believers and other residents of the faith an opportunity to clear up misconceptions and share their values with the world.
“Latter-day Saints really just want to be liked. No disrespect or anything, that's my community, but we have a history of wanting to show that we fit in and that we're good Americans,” he said. said. “We are happy to host the party at our house.”
The 2002 Olympics, widely regarded as one of the most successful Olympics, saw government funding for a light rail system and world-class athletic facilities. After that, the city grew rapidly.
Utah bid leaders declined to release a budget estimate, saying they should be able to provide one next month. But they assured the committee they could keep costs down by using much of the same venue, which they have spent millions of dollars maintaining since 2002. It also touted bipartisan support for holding the event in the Republican-majority state's Democratic capital.
With few choices Boykov said he will remain on the Olympic committee and that Salt Lake City will have influence in determining the terms. These can include funding, deadlines, and even which sports are included.
And with NBC's multibillion-dollar broadcast contract with the Olympic Committee set to expire in 2032 (two years before Utah), the committee is trying to attract U.S.-based broadcasters by broadcasting live broadcasts. has a vested interest in choosing a US city that is in a time zone suitable for Giants.
Unlike many cities, Salt Lake City residents are unsure whether they want another Olympics, even though leaders say statewide polls show more than 80% support. Couldn't vote.
Olympic historians say the hype could distract residents from other negative aspects for the host country, including gentrification, corruption, tax increases and empty promises to improve the environment.
So far, no opposition has formed in Utah.
“If we think of the Olympics as a cultural institution, if Utahns collectively decide that's important to us, it might be worth paying a little bit more money for,” Lunt said.
