Utah delegation bows to IOC demands before award of 2034 Winter Games

As expected, in the early hours of Pioneer Day in Utah, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in Paris to award the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City.

But the announcement of the award was not without drama. When the Utah contingent, led by Gov. Spencer Cox, arrived in Paris to make what it expected to be a mostly ceremonial bid presentation and accept the IOC’s coronation, it was met with some complicated political wrangling. The IOC demanded that Utah’s bid leaders sign an agreement to pressure U.S. federal officials to end an ongoing investigation into suspected doping at the Summer Games in Tokyo four years ago.

The IOC is upset about the investigation by the FBI into Chinese swimmers being allowed to compete in Tokyo despite testing positive for banned drugs. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted Chinese swimming officials’ explanation for the positive tests and concluded their probe. IOC President Thomas Bach wants to make sure WADA remains the top authority on doping cases and added a clause to Salt Lake’s host contract, effectively demanding that local organizers — including Cox — push to shut down the investigation or risk losing the Olympics.

“That was the only way that we could guarantee that we would get the games,” Cox said in a statement following the announcement. If the U.S. does not respect the “supreme authority of WADA,” the governor said, “they can withdraw the games from us.”

Once Utah bid leaders agreed to the amendment, the IOC voted 83-6 to award the games to the capital city. Salt Lake was the only candidate after the IOC gave it exclusive negotiating rights in a fast-track process last year.

Among those making the Paris on-stage presentation for Salt Lake City were Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Alpine skiing great Lindsey Vonn. In downtown Salt Lake City, fans gathered at 3 a.m. to watch a broadcast of the announcement live from Paris.

Utah’s quest to host the Winter Games for a second time began with the 2012 formation of an exploratory committee to consider a future bid. The current Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, which formulated and presented the bid that resulted in the award, was created in February 2020. Salt Lake was named America’s choice in 2018 and was named as preferred host by the International Olympic Committee in November 2023.

“Our strategy remained steadfast for over 20 years,” said Jeff Robbins, Utah Sports Commission president and CEO. “Utah has stayed ready, willing and able to host another Winter Games and the time has finally come as we welcome the world back to Utah for the 2034 Olympics and Paralympics.”

The Salt Lake City bid was strengthened by the preparedness of the host city and features no new permanent venue construction and the use of sites that have been well-maintained as community facilities since the Winter Games in 2002.

“Today’s decision by the International Olympic Committee is as much about the Olympic and Paralympic movement as it is about Salt Lake City-Utah,” said Fraser Bullock, committee president and CEO. “We are proud to show the world how our living legacy brings value to our communities, enriches the lives of youth, and helps contribute to the world of sport.”