“During our visit, the Commission was able to see first-hand these excellent venues and to witness the immense experience and expertise that exists,” explained Mr Stoss. “Enthusiasm for the Games was palpable in every interaction we had, both at the venues and in meetings with athletes, sports leaders, politicians and the private sector.”
Erin Mendenhall, the Mayor of Salt Lake City, said: “Salt Lake City and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement are deeply connected through values – our commitment to diversity, love for our youth and the tireless work to preserve our environment. These principles are shared through the lens of sport. I can’t imagine a better partnership than the one we continue to forge with our Olympic partners.”
“This a great day for winter sport in the United States and around the world,” said USOPC President Gene Sykes. “The Games vision brought forth by the Salt Lake City-Utah team – inclusive of state and city leaders, the remarkable bid team and the community that showed support for this effort throughout – has been collaborative and forward-looking from the very start. We are thankful to the IOC and to Karl Stoss who led the Future Host Commission, and we look forward to the process of organising what we know will be terrific Games in 2034.”
Fraser Bullock, President and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, said: “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. 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.”
Before the vote, IOC Members were able to put questions to Mr Stoss and to the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 leadership.
Serious concerns were expressed about recent developments in the United States around the challenge to the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which could have negative implications for international sports events held in the USA.
In their presentations, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 and the USOPC confirmed that they are fully committed to compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code, and that their dedication to clean sport and to the coordinated international anti-doping effort led by WADA is absolute.
IOC Member John Coates, Chair of the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission, confirmed that the Olympic Host Contract will be strengthened in relation to WADA and the World Anti-Doping Code. The IOC has reinforced the current language in order to protect the integrity of the international anti-doping system and to allow the IOC to terminate the Olympic Host Contract in cases where “the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the World Anti-Doping Code is hindered or undermined”.
This measure has been fully supported by the State of Utah and the USOPC.
There were 83 ‘yes’ votes for Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 by IOC Members, 6 ‘no’ votes and 6 abstentions, out of 89 valid votes.
