Governor Affirms America’s Hospitality Ahead of 2034 Winter Olympics in Utah
“The United States is still a very welcoming place,” declared Utah Governor Spencer Cox, addressing European media's inquiries about the nation’s political climate during the Milan Cortina Olympics.
In Milan to advocate for the 2034 Utah Winter Games, which are set to commence in exactly eight years, Cox faced a backdrop of discussions blending sports with international diplomacy and domestic politics.
During the opening ceremony, US Vice President JD Vance encountered a chorus of boos from the crowd, while African members of the International Olympic Committee raised concerns about visa protocols for attendees at the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
American athletes found themselves navigating questions about their sentiments on representing the U.S. amid current controversies, with Donald Trump publicly criticizing some of them.
Responding to a German journalist's request for a comparison between Utah’s optimistic Olympic outlook and the political turmoil in Washington, Cox remarked, “We care deeply about the political situation that is happening in the United States right now.”
He emphasized that “these are political issues that will be worked through,” noting that eight years until the Winter Games return to Salt Lake City is “a long ways away, for sure.”
Promoting civility, Cox drew parallels with Germany, stating, “We have elections just like your country. We will see how those things turn out.”
While he criticized media for probing athletes on non-sporting matters, he also expressed pride in America’s freedom of expression: “I love that we get to live in a country where people get to speak their minds.” He suggested that television news does not capture the full spectrum of American life.
“You will find it still a very welcoming place. We are a very welcoming country,” he reiterated. “There are some differences of opinion right now when it comes to the way that laws are being enforced. That will play out.”
At the news conference alongside Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and officials from the Utah Winter Games, including Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Cox listened as Hirshland defended freestyle skier Hunter Hess.
Hess had been labeled a “real loser” by Trump after expressing his discontent with current events during a press briefing.
“It is important to us to ensure that anyone who is reacting to or commenting on something that someone said understands the totality and the context of what they said,” Hirshland explained.
She expressed confidence in Team USA members, asserting, “I have all the confidence in the world that every member of Team USA is proud to represent our country and understands the opportunity they have to bring people together. We are all here for that and that’s exactly what we’re going to.”
