IOC President Will Visit Salt Lake City This September
Kirsty Coventry travels to Utah to tour venues and meet officials as preparations for the 2034 Winter Games continue.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Olympics
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International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City on September 23, 2026. The visit includes tours of Olympic venues and meetings with state and city officials regarding the upcoming 2034 Winter Games.
Why it matters
The visit marks a key step in supporting the organizing efforts for the 2034 Winter Games. As the first woman and African president of the IOC, Coventry is expected to oversee the progress of the privately funded event.
The 2034 Winter Games will be privately funded with a total budget of $4 billion. Funding for the Games relies on the sale of broadcast rights, sponsorships, and tickets.
The players
Kirsty Coventry
She serves as the president of the International Olympic Committee and is the first woman and first African to hold the position.
Thomas Bach
He is the predecessor to Kirsty Coventry who announced in 2024 that Salt Lake City would be the host for the 2034 Winter Games.
Fraser Bullock
He is a central figure in the Salt Lake City organizing committee who invited the IOC president to visit the host city.
The details
Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, will be in the city to meet with local political leaders and inspect facilities slated for the 2034 event. Her visit follows the 2024 announcement by Thomas Bach naming Utah as the host city for the 2034 Winter Games.
Timeline
Thomas Bach announced Utah as the host for the 2034 Winter Games in 2024.
Fraser Bullock extended an invitation to Coventry in February 2026.
Kirsty Coventry arrives for her visit to Utah on September 23, 2026.
Los Angeles is scheduled to host the Summer Games in 2028.
Salt Lake City will host the Winter Games in 2034.
Season Trajectory
The visit aligns Salt Lake City with the broader Olympic hosting timeline that includes the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. This sequence secures the U.S. position in the global Olympic rotation for the next decade.
The visit confirms that organizers are moving forward with a $4 billion privately funded budget that excludes public tax subsidies. This oversight directly impacts the scale of infrastructure projects and local venue upgrades planned for the 2034 Games.
The takeaway
As Salt Lake City prepares for 2034, the city will remain a focal point for global sports governance and infrastructure development. Residents can expect continued scrutiny of the privately funded budget as venue plans are finalized.
Further reading
Learn more about the future of the games in our Olympics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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