PARIS, France — Salt Lake City will be an Olympics host again after the IOC formally awarded the 2034 Winter Games to the United States bid on Wednesday.
The capital city of Utah was the only candidate since the International Olympic Committee gave Salt Lake City exclusive negotiating rights last year in the process that was fast-tracked for 2034 and led to U.S. being awarded the games.
The campaign team presenting the bid on stage to IOC members included the Governor of Utah Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Alpine ski great Lindsey Vonn. Back home, a 3 a.m. public watch party gathered to see a broadcast from Paris.
Other contenders for the 2034 Games included Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia, although the details of their bids to host are not public.
Salt Lake City’s final approval in a vote by those members will bring back the Winter Games 32 years after first hosting in 2002.
It will be the second major U.S. city to host the Games in a decade. The next Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
The news comes just two days ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, which are set to kick off Friday. The IOC also awarded 2030's Winter Olympic Games to France, meaning it will also host the Olympics twice in six years, similarly to the U.S. with the 2028 Games in L.A.
The 2030 Games are set to kick off in the French Alps, a region famous for its snow and skiing.