UTAH OLYMPIC EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE – FINAL COPYOCTOBER 17, 20121
To: Governor Herbert and Mayor BeckerFrom: Utah Olympic Exploratory CommitteeLt. Governor Greg Bell and Steve Price, Co-chairsRE: Bidding for and Hosting a future Olympic and ParalympicWinter GamesExecutive SummaryBackground
In February 2012, on the tenth anniversary of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic WinterGames, the Utah Olympic Exploratory Committee (UOEC) was formed toevaluate the benefits and challenges of bidding for and hosting a future OlympicWinter Games.On July 3, 2012, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) announced its intention notto pursue a 2022 Olympic Winter Games bid, but instead to look toward a 2024Summer Games or a 2026 Olympic Winter Games bid. The USOC’s decisionregarding a summer or winter Games bid will most likely be determinedsometime in the next 2 years, dependent on timing of the IOC 2024 bid process.
Utah Olympic Exploratory Committee Organization
The UOEC was organized into six subcommittees with the following taskassignments:
1)
Community Outreach and Public Opinion
– responsible forconducting polls and interviews to determine support for future biddingand hosting of the Olympic Winter Games. The scope included publicopinion, business community support, Salt Lake City and other venuecommunity and local government support, State government support,as well as responses from the former board, executive management,and volunteers from the Salt Lake 2002 Games.This subcommittee also reviewed appropriate legal and governancestructures for future bid and organizing committees, potentiallegislation that may be required, anticipated statutory actions at the
UTAH OLYMPIC EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE – FINAL COPYOCTOBER 17, 20122
state and local levels of government, and guarantees required by theInternational Olympic Committee.
2)
Hospitality
– assessed the current and planned number of hotelrooms in the Salt Lake Olympic region against the IOC Olympic WinterGames requirement of 23,300 rooms. This subcommittee alsoperformed a preliminary review of room types and star rating formeeting the requirements of the various Olympic client groups.
3)
Sport and Venues
- responsible for evaluating the support of the2002 Games venue owners and operators for bidding and hosting theOlympic Winter Games in 2026. Assessed the current condition, futuredevelopment plans, and viability of each venue for hosting the Games,considering Winter Games sport program additions since 2002.Reviewed sport experience in the past 10 years and formulated futuresport event objectives for the continued growth and sustainability ofUtah’s Olympic legacy at both publicly and privately owned venues.Growth potential and sustainability were evaluated in terms of facilities,programs, and events.Worked with the Transportation sub-committee to evaluate anddevelop a physical Games concept for 2026 or beyond.Provided input to the Environment and Meteorology section of thereport, and in particular, reviewed potential climate change impactsand anticipated snow conditions at the outdoor venues.
4)
Transportation
– assessed the current transportation infrastructure aspart of a proposed physical concept for a 2026 Games. Met with UDOT,UTA, the Salt Lake City International Airport Authority, and othertransportation stakeholders to review planned infrastructureimprovements between 2012 and 2020. The meetings focused on therelationship of planned improvements to venue access, anticipatedtransportation service levels for each Olympic client group, andalignment between preparations for a future Games and Utah’s longterm development strategies.
5)
Finance
– established both a Bid Budget and an OCOG (OrganizingCommittee for the Olympic Games) Games budget for a future bid.
T
he Bid Budget was based on an evaluation of recent bid budgets fromother Winter Games, adjusted for inflation, and took into considerationthe Salt Lake advantage of having hosted the 2002 Games. TheOCOG budget was developed with an in-depth review of the 2002Games final cost, recognizing changes to the Games sport programsince 2002 as well as potential changes for a Games physical concept
UTAH OLYMPIC EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE – FINAL COPYOCTOBER 17, 20123
for 2026. Both budgets are expressed in 2012 USD in Section 08 ofthe report.
6)
Competitive Analysis
– evaluated the strengths and opportunitiesthat would come from a future bid, and in hosting the Games.Assessed the benefits and challenges of competing at the national andinternational levels of the bid process. Reviewed the reasons whyreturning the Games to Salt Lake City would be good for the Olympicmovement, Salt Lake City and the State of Utah.The members of the UOEC are listed on page 35 of the report.
Recommendation
The work of the UOEC has determined that Utah is ready, willing, and able tohost another Olympic Winter Games. The Utah Olympic Exploratory Committeeunanimously recommends that Salt Lake City pursue a bid for the 2026 Olympicand Paralympic Winter Games, should the USOC decide to submit a WinterGames bid. Pursuit of a bid for a Winter Games after 2026 would need to befurther evaluated at the time the USOC elects to bid.Utah’s 2002 Olympic Winter Games legacy includes world-class venues andfacilities, sustainable legacies in transportation infrastructure and operations, andstrong sport programs for all levels of participation from elite athletes, tocommunity clubs, to physical training for school children. In addition, the Utah“brand” has been a direct beneficiary of the 2002 Games success. Salt LakeCity’s identity as an Olympic city has increased national and internationalawareness of Utah, helped drive significant increases in tourism, and helpedexpand state, national, and international business opportunities.Utah’s Olympic legacy is strong and vibrant and ready to provide the foundationfor a future Olympic Winter Games. Bringing the Games back to Salt Lake Citywould provide additional opportunities to: a) give back to the Olympic Movement,b) continue to promote Olympic ideals, c) strengthen and grow our sustainablelegacies from the 2002 Games, and d) further support sport and physical activityas key elements of City and State public health initiatives.From Utah’s 2002 Games experience, the economic benefits of hosting theGames are well understood by government and the private sector. While hostinga future Games would require less construction for venues and infrastructure ascompared to the 2002 Games, the direct and indirect economic output isexpected to be in excess of $5 billion, provide over 30,000 job years ofemployment, and generate net revenues to state and local government of morethan $75 mil. Significantly, the Organizing Committee Games budget could re-endow existing Olympic legacy venues, extend their life well beyond currenthorizons, and provide additional funds for continued sport development and
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Olympic Exploratory Committee report
The Utah Olympic Exploratory Committee report suggests that Utah seek to host the 2026 Olympic Winter Games
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