New report suggests how Utah should capitalize on 2034 Olympic opportunity

SALT LAKE CITY — Researchers at the University of Utah released a new report ahead of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics expected in 2034, outlining the weight of the opportunity at hand. The new report, "Keepers of the Flame: Utah's Olympic-sized Opportunity" from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, suggests the state use all its Olympic excitement as a catalyst to fix some of Utah's lingering problems. When the Games last came to Utah in 2002, Utah used the Olympic excitement to fix Interstate 15 and add public transit with TRAX, among other things. The report suggests glancing back at the 2002 playbook. According to the data gathered, three billion people from more than 200 countries are expected to be watching the Olympics in Utah in 2034. The report classifies seven areas Utah is doing well in, which it calls "Utah's Magnificent Seven." Alternatively, it highlights seven challenges the state still faces called "Utah's Troubling Seven," and offers seven suggestions on how to use the Olympic excitement to fix those problems. The suggestions it offers are referred to in the report as the "Starting Seven: The Starting point for a statewide dialogue."

1. Housing Affordability: Create statewide community land trust.
2. Traffic Congestion: Prioritize connected autonomous vehicles.
3. Third Grade Reading: Place a reading pro in K-3 classrooms.
4. Higher Education Graduation Rates: Expand catalyst centers into SLC.
5. Great Salt Lake: Conserve 250 KAF to 500 KAF annually.
6. Energy Supply: Invest in a state energy research fund.
7. Behavioral Health: Align behavioral health efforts and investments with Utah’s strategic plan.

"We're going to be in the world's spotlight when the Olympics come and so that gives us a chance to reflect about what that spotlight is going to mean for us at that time, as well as what it means long term," said Phil Dean, chief economist at the Institute. Essentially, researchers believe the state can leverage the Olympics to create a land trust to bring down housing costs, invest in self-driving cars and increase motivation to conserve water, as just some of their ideas. This is the only report the Institute is planning to release on the Olympics. When asked who it was aimed at helping, representatives said it's something "we all should take notice of," but specifically the researchers behind it hope policy makers review their findings. They stressed that by the time the Olympic torch is lit again in 2034, it'll be too late.

Contributing: Mary Culbertson, KSL TV

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