MISSION
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its mission is to commemorate the Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City in 2002 to motivate individuals to live healthier, more active lives and encourage more community use of Utah’s Olympic venues. Young athletes can practice alongside world champions at their facilities, designated as the official United States Olympic Training Sites. These venues are sites of success and inspiration. To develop champions in sport and life, to provide inspirational experiences for communities, and to commemorate the Olympic heritage for future generations. Learn more.
VISION
To instill the Olympic and Paralympic spirit in their children, neighborhoods, and international athletes.
HISTORY
Utah served as the host location for the XIX Olympic Winter Games and the VIII Paralympic Winter Games in 2002. 2500 Olympians from 77 countries came to Utah to chase their Olympic ambitions, making the 2002 Games a massive success by any metrics. Incredible settings and excellent conditions worked together to provide the ideal environment for the athletes to perform their very best.
The venues were packed with the ideal audiences that have ever been seen in an Olympic Winter Games, setting a record still being held today. These crowds cheered on every competitor, in every event, from every nation. During the Games in 2002, the United States team brought 34 Olympic and 43 Paralympic medals. Derek Parra, Sarah Hughes, Janica Kostelic, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, and Vonetta Flowers are just a few of the athletes that contributed to the progression of athletics in their unique manner.
The question that faces every city that will play host to the Olympics is, of course, the same: how can the beautiful experiences of the Olympics translate into long-term advantages for the nation and the community that will be hosting the games? The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation was the solution to this question, and it was established to carry on the beneficial consequences of the 2002 Winter Games for both the people who live in Utah and the people who come to visit them from all over the globe.
The Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 was so successful. They gained so much momentum that they inspired the Foundation to redirect its efforts toward embracing, engaging, and immersing Utah’s young people in winter sports. From community-based leisure camps and development programs focusing on progression to the Foundation’s formal classification as an official the United States Olympic Training Site at the Utah Olympic Oval and Utah Olympic Park, the Foundation is the future of winter sports in North America.
Sports
Learn to Skate Their programs conform to the national and international criteria established by Learn to Skate USA in 2002, the year following the iconic 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games. Their programs were established in 2002. Students are free to advance through the program levels at their own speed, moving on to more challenging tasks after they have mastered the required principles.
What to Expect on the First Day of Class
Please be advised that the inside of the ring stays consistently at about 56 degrees. Skaters and spectators alike are encouraged to dress appropriately for the temperature and conditions at the Utah Olympic Oval.
Skate Fitting
Every student must check in at the front desk on the first day of class30 minutes or more before the lesson begins. Skaters will be issued an identification badge and allowed to be fitted for skates. The Oval staff will help you get the right fit for your skates and instruct you on how to tie your laces correctly.
What to wear
- Socks that are long and not too heavy
- Put on a sweatsuit, a sweater, or a warm coat.
- Gloves
- Helmets are allowed, and multi-sport helmets are permissible. However, aerodynamic types are not advised. Helmets are not required but highly suggested.
- They strongly advise against engaging in jeans because of their constricting nature, and shorts are not allowed at all.
Figure Skating
Learn to Skate USA is responsible for ensuring that all of its figure skating programs follow the national and international standards that it has established. Their figure skating programs were established in 2002, after the iconic 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games. The program may be completed by students at their speed, continuing to improve their speed, endurance, and power while developing the principles necessary to accomplish increasingly challenging routines.
Speed Skating
Do you find that you need to move quickly? Or are you just seeking a technique to become healthy that won’t feel like work? Those who are certain of their capacities perform the fundamentals of ice skating but would want to improve their speed while skating.
Hockey
The Utah Olympic Oval takes great pride in being home to a hockey community that is unlike any other. Beginners of any age are welcome to participate in any of their child hockey programs, and if you’re an adult, you may join the action in any of their adult hockey leagues.
FAQ
Where are you located?
The stunning Park City is home to Utah Olympic Park, within a half-hour drive from the heart of Salt Lake City. Take Exit #145 off of I-80 and proceed south toward historic Park City. After traveling around the roundabout, make a right left at the second light (the Olympic Parkway / Newpark Blvd intersection). Follow the road up the hill in the direction of the Nordic Jumps; the Quinney Welcome Center is located about one mile further up the road.
Are there any free activities?
Free participation is available in a variety of their programs. Visit the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games Museum, both located in the Quinney Welcome Center and open nonstop and free of charge during the whole year. During the summer months, nature paths open to the public for activities such as hiking and biking. A climbing wall and other interactive playground equipment are now available in the Discovery Zone, which is accessible to children.
Where should I park?
Parking at the Utah Olympic Park location is plentiful and free of charge.
What should I wear?
Every activity requires participants to wear shoes with their toes covered. No luggage of any kind is allowed during any of the activities. Since we do not have any public lockers available, they kindly ask that you leave them in your vehicle.
Can I drive through the Park?
The public is not allowed access to roads that go to or away from the bobsled track. A trip with a guide who will transport you to the top of the Nordic jumps and the bobsled track is the greatest way to view Utah Olympic Park. Even though the roads are blocked, visitors can stroll, hike, and ride their bikes throughout the 400-acre area of the Olympic Park in Utah.
If so, are those the only available options?
You may purchase tickets for individual activities at the Guest Services desk, which is situated in the Quinney Welcome Center. Tickets for personal activities may only be bought in person and cannot be found for sale online. Check this out.
What happens in inclement weather?
In severe weather, Utah Olympic Park will not provide refunds for individual activities or passes. If there are strong winds or lightning within five miles of the Park, we shall halt all activities until it is safe to begin them again. The halt in the weather will persist for at least half an hour.
Visit their website or call (801) 968-6825 for further details.