11 months ago
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SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) — The United States is expected to beryllium chosen arsenic the big state for its 5th Winter Olympic Games, with Salt Lake City acceptable to get the motion for 2034.
Utah officials are already successful Paris, France — the big of this year's Summer Olympics — awaiting the authoritative announcement, which is expected to instrumentality spot astir 5 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. MT Wednesday. If elected, this would people the 2nd Winter Olympics for Salt Lake, which hosted the 2002 games.
Previously, the U.S. has besides hosted the Winter Games astatine Lake Placid, New York (1932 and 1980) and Squaw Valley, California (1960).
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended Salt Lake during their enforcement committee gathering connected June 12. The afloat committee volition ballot connected the last support tonight. IOC members toured the 2002 Olympic sites successful April. Karl Stoss, seat of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, said helium felt Utah could beryllium acceptable to "host tomorrow" if needed.
According to Utah Committee for the Games Communication Lead Tom Kelly, the operating fund for the 2034 Games is estimated to beryllium $2.83 cardinal — which is astir identical to the 2002 budget. The information that Utah inactive has each of 2002's venues — and that they've remained successful usage arsenic grooming facilities — has helped to support costs down. No caller imperishable operation is expected.
"Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 volition beryllium 1 of the astir compact Games successful history, with each venues wrong a one-hour thrust of the azygous Athlete Village astatine the University of Utah," said Kelly. "The sustainable venue footprint requires nary caller imperishable operation and features 13 contention and non-competition venues already successful place, each having played a relation successful 2002 and successful continual usage since. One venue volition beryllium temporary."
That said, successful 2002, Salt Lake City produced 78 Olympic events. Kelly said successful 2034, that programme could turn by 40%.
A survey released earlier this period by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute estimated the Games could person a $6.6 cardinal economical output for Utah.
Kelly said 1 large quality from the 2002 Games volition beryllium the summation of an Athlete Family Village — a spot for athletes' families to stay.
Even though Salt Lake City got caught successful a bribery ungraded that astir derailed the 2002 Winter Olympics, it has worked its mode backmost into the bully graces of an Olympic committee progressively reliant connected passionate communities arsenic its options dwindle. Salt Lake has go a premier campaigner if officials yet signifier a imperishable rotation of big cities, Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi told the Associated Press.
“The International Olympic Committee needs Salt Lake City a batch much than Salt Lake City needs the International Olympic Committee, oregon the Olympics,” said Jules Boykoff, a sports and authorities prof astatine Pacific University.
