A new piece of legislation, HB321, could give Utah’s governor and state legislative leaders a say in selecting the head of the organizing committee for the 2034 Winter Games. This bill proposes that the elected leaders of the state’s executive and legislative branches must sign off on any individual nominated to serve as the director of the committee responsible for organizing the event.
However, the proposed bill is subject to change, according to Fraser Bullock, president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. While he acknowledges the current wording of the bill, Bullock explained that it will be updated soon to provide more clarity.
“There will be more clarity coming soon,” said Bullock, adding that the language in the bill needs adjustment rather than it being in flux. He emphasized that the full details about who will lead the organizing committee will be disclosed in the coming weeks, alongside a clearer structure of how the committee will operate.
State officials, including Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, are actively working alongside U.S. and international Olympic officials to shape the organizing committee for the 2034 event.
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The bill, which is still a work in progress, was introduced by Rep. Jon Hawkins of Pleasant Grove, who also chairs the state’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee. While Hawkins did not provide specific reasoning for including state leaders in the selection of the organizing committee’s head, he did acknowledge that the bill’s language is still being refined.
The bill justifies state involvement by citing the “potential impacts” the Winter Games could have on Utah, especially in terms of public finances. Despite the Games being primarily privately funded—expected to raise up to $4 billion from sources like ticket sales, broadcast rights, and sponsorships—the state still has a vested interest due to its role as the guarantor of the event.
When Utah secured the bid for the Winter Games in July 2024, Gov. Cox signed the official host contract, committing the state to cover any financial shortfalls. This follows a similar arrangement made during the 2002 Winter Games, where the state pledged to cover potential gaps in funding. That event ultimately turned a profit, helping repay the state for the construction of competition venues and establishing an endowment for their upkeep.
In light of these past experiences, the bill acknowledges the possibility of state financial obligations arising from hosting the 2034 Games. For instance, the Legislature has previously allocated around $92 million for Olympic venues in the years following the 2002 Games.
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The bill also comes on the heels of 2023 legislation that clarified Utah’s role in hosting either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Games. This earlier legislation created the Legislature’s Olympic Oversight Committee, which is tasked with reviewing any state financial commitments related to the Games and receiving biannual updates on the event’s progress.
As the process moves forward, state leaders are still working to finalize the structure and leadership of the organizing committee. Full details are expected to be shared in the coming weeks as part of the ongoing preparations for Utah’s hosting of the Winter Games.
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