Over the past six days, I have had the opportunity to be part of the Utah 2034 IOC Olympic Observer Program at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. After seeing the successes and challenges of these games, it became clear to me that Utah, and the Heber Valley, are well positioned to make the 2034 game remarkable.

The Olympic Observer Program is designed to give future host cities an opportunity to learn first-hand how to plan for, execute, and even wrap up an Olympic Games. In our group, we had folks from the French Alps (Winter 2030), Brisbane Australia (Summer 2032), and even some from Switzerland (bidding on Winter 2038). We met with organizers and volunteers to understand as many aspects of the Olympic Games as possible. I came away with an expanded understanding of how the Olympics work and how Heber Valley can leverage the games to make lasting positive impacts to our valley.

There are some projects that are “right-sized” that our community should do to maximize the Winter Games experience.

Transportation: This is a great opportunity for our community to look at alternative modes for moving people, residents, employees, and visitors, throughout the valley. We can address the amount of vehicle traffic from visitors by creating designated park and ride areas with shuttle service that conveniently takes visitors all around the valley. This is a service that will be critical before, during, and post Olympics. Fewer cars on the road in congested areas is something we can all enjoy.

Gathering Spaces: We heard there is an equal amount of people who come to experience the Games as there are ticket holders. This gives us an opportunity to create gathering spaces in both Midway and Heber City downtown areas, creating a fun Olympic atmosphere. The larger benefit being that our residents of this valley will be able to enjoy such spaces well before the Olympics arrive
and long after they have passed.

Take Part:  Be active in the Games when they come! This is an opportunity for economic growth for sure, but also an opportunity for cultural exchange. Local business will boom as we see many travelers looking to stay, eat, and shop in our community. But, the best thing you can do is enjoy this time. Catch the Olympic spirit, share our warm hospitality and authentic Heber Valley culture with these visitors. Show the world our wonderful people we have here in Heber Valley.

There is much more that I learned, but if we start with these ideas we will see a strong and lasting benefit to our community for generations to come.