Leaders of Olympics host communities form committee, begin collaboration for 2034 Games

Leaders from the communities that will be involved in hosting visitors and events for the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games got together online recently for the first meeting of the Host Communities Committee. Members of the group expect to collaborate on preparations for the Games over the next nine years. 

“From the Alpine slopes of Snowbasin to the Nordic tracks at Soldier Hollow, from the skating ice in Provo to the halfpipe in Park City, this is a Games built on shared leadership just as much as it is shared terrain,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who has been selected to chair the committee. “The decisions we make together will shape the success of the Games themselves. But they’ll also shape what kind of legacy we leave behind once the last medal has been awarded.”

During the recent meeting, the group made introductions and discussed the establishment of the committee’s charter. The committee also discussed current planning efforts and future community engagement opportunities. The committee decided it will develop collective short-, medium- and long-term goals, including municipal requests to the state Legislature and broader community engagement plans to celebrate the Olympic Games.

“This committee lets us move beyond venues and timelines to focus on the opportunities this moment creates for our communities,” said Park City Mayor Nann Worel, the group’s vice chair. “We’re not just preparing to host the world for two and a half weeks in 2034; we’re working together to ensure these Games leave a meaningful and lasting legacy, from State Street to our Main Streets.”

The Host Communities Committee will meet as needed, with the co-chairs providing updates to the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

“We are fortunate to have great city leaders across all of our host venue communities,” said Colin Hilton, president and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, who is leading venue planning for the 2034 Winter Games. “They will provide strong direction for their respective cities and towns, working together with our organizing committee to produce not only a great event in 2034, but a positive lasting legacy for their communities.”

The members of the committee are Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall (chair), Park City Mayor Nann Worel (vice chair), Heber City Mayor Heidi Franco, Kearns Mayor Kelly Bush, Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson, Ogden City Mayor Ben Nadolski, Provo City Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Summit County Councilperson Canice Harte, Wasatch County Councilperson Mark Nelson, Weber County Commissioner Jim Harvey, West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang, Vice Chairman Brad Parry of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone, Colin Hilton of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Olympic cyclist Haley Batten, and Lisa Valiant of the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Organizing Committee.