The return of the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City in 2034 is imminent. What’s the city’s advantage?

It’s been speculated for a long time. Salt Lake City in the USA welcomed the Winter Olympics back in 2002. For a four-year cycle, you could say quite recently. Yet, as early as 2034, the Olympics could return to this American destination. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided Wednesday that the city will be the “preferred host”.

Several key factors determine the Olympic Games bid. Financial stability of the city, sports infrastructure, facilities for athletes and spectators, fan interest and much more. A major sporting event is not something that just anyone can achieve.

It is perhaps all the more surprising that Salt Lake City can win the host city for the second time in a relatively short period. The IOC has called on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees to begin concrete dialogues about hosting the Games.

The French Olympic Committee, which is seeking to host the Winter Olympics in the Alps in 2030, has also received the same call. Subsequently, the hosts of each Games are expected to be officially named in July.

Salt Lake City at an advantage

What is leading the IOC to award the host city to the same city it did in 2002? In a word – infrastructure. In general, the Olympics itself has garnered a lot of criticism in recent years for the amount of money it costs to build venues that largely sit empty after the Games.

Organising destinations spending billions of dollars on building infrastructure has also made the Olympics less attractive to young people. The IOC said the ability to use existing venues from 2002 was a major factor in deciding in favour of Salt Lake City.

“The city is ready for this event. I believe we can host a Games that will unite our global community,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall told The Athletic website.

Salt Lake City is poised to host this major sporting event in a few months thanks to its large number of venues. The only current shortfall is housing for the athletes and organizers. However, an agreement with the University of Utah should solve this problem.

Otherwise, Salt Lake City is ready, which is a big factor with IOC representatives. Everything is privately funded.

America is attractive to the IOC in another respect. It needs to win a new attractive broadcasting rights contract with the American public. The current one with NBC ends in 2032. That is also why the Olympics are due to return to the US as early as 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Summer Games.

Source: The Athletic