2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics were based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with events taking place throughout the mountains of the Wasatch Front.

Olympic Venues

Utah Olympic Park: Site of ski jumping, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge during the Salt Lake 2002 Games, Utah Olympic Park near Park City now operates year-round as a world-class competition site and training ground. It's also a top-notch tourist destination: depending on the season, visitors can watch events, take a ride in a bobsled or witness amazing aerial stunts in the splash pool. Don't miss the Alf Engen Ski Museum, and it's collection of official Salt Lake 2002 Olympic memorabilia, housed in the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center at the Park.

Directions: The Utah Olympic Park is accessible eastbound and westbound from I-80, about 28 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City. Take Exit 145 (Kimball Junction) onto Highway 224 going south toward Park City. At the second traffic light, take right turn onto Olympic Parkway on the west side of Highway 224. Drive about one mile up the road to the entrance gatehouse, Olympic legacy plaza and visitor parking.

Soldier Hollow: Set against the majestic backdrop of Mount Timpanogos, Soldier Hollow taxed even the toughest of nordic skiers with its rolling hills and long, looping courses. Olympic cross-country hopefuls still push it to the limit, but Soldier Hollow also offers more relaxed recreation such as tubing and snowshoeing and, in the summer, hiking and camping.

Directions: From Salt Lake City, take I-80 East to Silver Creek Junction (exit 148). Go south on U.S. 40 past Jordanelle Reservoir toward Heber City. Take right turn on State Road 113 (100 South) to Midway. Take a left on 113 in Midway, and travel two miles. Turn right just before the railroad tracks and follow signs to Soldier Hollow. Located in Wasatch Mountain State Park, Soldier Hollow is about 53 miles from downtown Salt Lake City.

Memorial Sites

Wall of Honor and Olympic Legacy Plaza: At the center of the outdoor Gateway shopping district stands the Salt Lake 2002 Wall of Honor, a striking tribute to the thousands of people who made the Games and Paralympics possible. From grooming ski runs to cleaning athletes' rooms, more than 20,000 volunteers gave Salt Lake 2002 its shine. Each is recognized on the Wall of Honor, adjacent to the commemorative bricks, inscribed with patrons' names and special greetings, which pave Olympic Legacy Plaza. WETDesign, which created the Olympic Cauldron, crafted a special dancing fountain, set to music, at Olympic Legacy Plaza.

Gallivan Plaza: Adjacent to the Salt Lake 2002 headquarters, Gallivan Plaza is a lively, open-air space where staff might take the occasional break to watch a summer concert, skate on the ice rink, or just eat lunch in the park. Still a popular gathering and celebration spot, Gallivan now displays a three-sided monument inscribed with Salt Lake 2002 statistics as well as a special thank you to the senior management, staff and volunteers.

Olympic Cauldron: There is no more stunning reminder of the Salt Lake 2002 Games than the sight of the Olympic Cauldron. Throughout history, many cauldrons have been moved from their original locations or dismantled and forgotten. But thanks to the commitment of Salt Lake City residents to the Olympic ideals, the cauldron now rests, intact, just a few feet from where it burned as a beacon to athletes and spectators in February 2002. Now, the world can enjoy a closer look at the science behind the Olympic Spirit. The Cauldron is located at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus.

Utah Skiing

Experience the snows that drove the Olympic Selection Committee to choose Utah as the place to hold the world's preeminent winter recreation competition. Resorts such as Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, and The Canyons in the Park City area, and Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, and Alta in the mountains near Salt Lake attract visitors from around the world. Learn more at any of the links above or visit our Utah Skiing Overview Page.

More Information

For more information about Utah, visit the homepage of Go-Utah.com for a comprehensive travel guide to this great western state.