“They know the recipe!” IOC goes gaga over SLC ahead of visit

SALT LAKE CITY — Saying Salt Lake City “has been there, done that, they’ve done it,” members of the International Olympic Committee spoke enthusiastically Monday about an upcoming visit to Utah next month.

The trip to northern Utah will take place just months before Salt Lake City is likely to host the 2034 Winter Games in July.

In a discussion with various media outlets, the IOC shared his plans for his visit to Utah from April 10-13. While in the Salt Lake City area, committee members will delve deeper into the proposal to host the 2034 Games and what it means for the region.

“What’s fabulous to see is that Salt Lake and Utah are so excited and so eager to host the Games again, and I think it’s clearly a demonstration of what has been a fabulous Games successful, a great experience, and that we want to create this for a new generation and give this opportunity to a new generation of young people and athletes,” said Jacqueline Barrett, director of the future hosts of the Olympic Games.

What became clear Monday was the extent to which Salt Lake City’s experience in hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics excited even the usually reserved members of the IOC.

“They’ve done it before, they’re not beginners and it’s a totally different ball game, and I really like that feeling of coming back to some of the biggest experts,” said Christophe Dubi, managing director . Director of the Olympic Games.

Even the delay between the holding of the Games does not seem to be a detriment.

“They know the recipe, and yes, it’s a long time ago, but guess what, the logic of organizing and carrying out the event remains the same,” Dubi added. “So we’re going to be talking, probably expert to expert and that’s a really good feeling.”

The IOC will visit urban sites such as the planned Olympic Village site and Medals Square, as well as venues for figure skating, speed skating, hockey and other sports. The group will also travel to mountain sites to practice alpine, freestyle and cross-country skiing, as well as ski jumping, bobsleigh and luge.

In February, the Salt Lake City-Utah Games Committee officially submitted its bid to host the 2034 Olympic Games, months after the IOC named the region as the preferred host for that date.

After the April visit, the IOC Future Hosts Commission will submit its report to the committee’s Executive Board.