Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- The steering committee for Utah's 2034 Winter Games includes athletes, community leaders and officials.
- Fraser Bullock emphasizes its role in providing expertise and perspectives for success.
- Notable members include Olympians Nathan Chen, Ted Ligety and Paralympian Chris Waddell.
SALT LAKE CITY — Another key piece of Utah's 2034 Winter Games organization is now in place: a steering committee that includes athletes as well as community, sports and business leaders and several elected officials.
The new group, announced in a virtual news conference, will serve in an advisory capacity to the Organizing Committee of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that was unveiled on Feb. 14.
The organizing committee board, which is responsible for overseeing Utah's next Winter Games that carry a price tag expected to add up to $4 billion, all from private sources, and the new steering committee are set to meet for the first time on Thursday.
"The steering committee will play a vital role in the years leading up to 2034," Fraser Bullock, the organizing committee's executive chair and president, said. "It allows us to bring in a broad range of expertise and perspectives across many topics that will be paramount to our success."
The steering committee boosts eight athletes with Utah ties, including two-time Olympic champion skier Ted Ligety, 2022 figure skating gold medalist Nathan Chen, 13-time Paralympic medalist Chris Waddell and 2002 Paralympic cross-country skiing champion Tanja Kari.
All of the members named Wednesday to the new committee are:
- Dani Aravich, Boise (Paralympian)
- Scott Beck, Park City
- Maura Carabello, Salt Lake City
- Nathan Chen, Salt Lake City (Olympian)
- Carine Clark, Orem
- State Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City
- Miles Hansen, Salt Lake City
- Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove
- Colin Hilton, Park City
- Christena Huntsman, Salt Lake City
- Tanja Kari, Salt Lake City (Paralympian)
- Ted Ligety, Park City (Olympian)
- David Lockwood, Park City
- Kaysha Love, Herriman (Olympian)
- State Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork
- Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall
- Derek Miller, Salt Lake City
- Brad Mortensen, Ogden
- Catherine Raney Norman, Salt Lake City (Olympian)
- Brad Parry, Salt Lake City
- Matthew Prince, Park City
- Nathan Rafferty, Park City
- Brad Rencher, Alpine
- Lacy Richards, West Haven
- Hanna Skandera, Denver
- Jordan Stolz, Kewaskum, Wisconsin (Olympian)
- Chris Waddell, Park City (Paralympian)
- Park City Mayor Nann Worel
Raney Norman, a speedskater who competed in four Olympics, including the 2002 Winter Games, and served as the chair of the bid committee, will also head up a new Athletes Commission, created to help ensure a good experience for 2034 Olympians and Paralympians.
Mendenhall is the chairwoman of a new Host Communities Committee, with Worel as vice chairwoman. Hilton, CEO of the nonprofit Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation that owns the Utah Olympic Park and operates other Olympic venues, will lead a new Sport and Venues Committee.
Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, will lead a new Technology and Innovation Committee.
The day-to-day operations of the organizing committee are being run by former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, who is also vice chairman of the organizing committee board. Steve Starks, Gov. Spencer Cox's Olympic advisor, is also a vice chairman.
