Since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City’s legacy has been defined by its success. The city is set to host again in 2034, but with the Great Salt Lake predicted to dry up in five years making the area uninhabitable, will there be a winter games at all?
The 2002 Olympic Winter Games, initially protested by Salt Lake City residents, are now seen as a success, with lasting benefits for the local community. Unlike many host cities, Salt Lake City avoided economic and social pitfalls, enjoying infrastructure improvements and global recognition. The Games generated an estimated $5 billion in additional economic output, with the Utah Transit Authority developing the Trax light rail system. The Olympic sporting venues–many pre-existing–remain in use today, solidifying Utah’s status as a leading destination for high-performance and recreational winter sports.
With another Olympics on the horizon for Salt Lake City, the 2034 event faces mounting pressures. Global issues have shifted since the early 2000s and the city’s current identity is evolving, centered around urgent issues like air quality, homelessness, and a rapidly drying Great Salt Lake.
A shrinking Great Salt Lake introduces unprecedented challenges for the region, some already being experienced. The 2034 winter games are not immune from the impacts of the disappearing lake.
The 2034 Olympics–a decade away–present a unique opportunity for Salt Lake City to redefine what it means to host a global event by prioritizing sustainability and social responsibility. By doing so, the city will have the ability to preserve the lake, safeguard its future, and set a new global standard of environmental responsibility for Olympic events.
The Great Salt Lake is drying up due to population growth, climate change, and water diversions for agriculture. With the lake having lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface area, this environmental crisis is a major threat to the livelihood of the region. As the lakebed is exposed, toxic dust containing arsenic and mercury will be carried by the wind, affecting air quality across Utah and beyond.
The lake plays a critical role in regional precipitation, with its evaporation contributing up to 10% of the snowpack in the surrounding mountains. The continued decline could significantly reduce natural snowfall, impacting snow-based Olympic events and leading to warmer, less predictable weather conditions. Dust storms from the exposed lakebed present a new threat, with poor visibility and dangerous air quality likely to disrupt outdoor events.
Beyond the Games, it is vital for the city and state to prioritize the long-term protection of the Great Salt Lake. Its continued decline not only threatens local ecosystems but also poses serious risks to biodiversity and global food security.
The 2002 Games proved Salt Lake City’s ability to host a successful global event, but the 2034 Olympics must go further. These Games should be remembered not just for their athletic feats but for Utah’s environmental leadership and lasting social impact. With the world watching, Salt Lake City has a chance to rise to the occasion again by restoringGreat Salt Lake before the winter games.
How you can help save the great salt lake
- Sign up to get involved with Grow the Flow and meet with one of our members to find out where you can have the most impact!
- Advocate for stronger water conservation policies at the state and local levels.
- Participate in community cleanup initiatives around the lake to reduce pollution and protect local ecosystems.