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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Over 15 years ago, Colin Hilton came to Utah to help with planning the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. And you know what happened next: he fell in love with the Utah lifestyle and decided to make his home here. Fifteen years later, he still says it was one of the best choices he's ever made, and he's now the president of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
The main mission of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is to grow program participation and to maintain the venues left over from the Olympics, so these facilities are being put to good use. The two main venues they handle are the Utah Olympic Park in Park City and the Olympic Oval in Kearns. The foundation's goal is to create healthy and dynamic progression in various winter sports for all ages and ability levels.
Prior to 2002, there were only three ice sheets in the state of Utah. Today, there are 17. This can be attributed to growth in ice-skating, which Colin says is rewarding because it was not always part of the Utah culture. Today, just at the Olympic Oval over 1,500 kids are participating in the Learn to Skate program annually, a dramatic increase over the 450 per year in 2005. You'll also find adult hockey leagues and active curling programs.
The Olympic Legacy Foundation is removing barriers to entry and creating attractive entry points for winter sport participation. Colin says Utah is a model region that continues to improve legacy efforts by maintaining Olympic facilities at world-class levels. The foundation is also developing over 300,000 square feet of space as part of their long-term strategy to continue their mission.
Because of the ongoing Olympic facility uses and engagement of the community in programming offered through the Olympic Legacy Foundation, Colin is often invited to participate in panels and discussions. This means Utah is highlighted for how we continue to keep our Olympic facilities in use, which includes attracting world-class Olympic athletes who come here to train.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation 3419 Olympic Pkwy Park City, UT 84098 435-658-4200 www.utaholympiclegacy.com
