Well, I apologize for going MIA on the bit the last two weeks.

I’ve been in Minnesota visiting family and was actually without internet or a cell phone for the final 6 days or so. I almost finished a ‘weekly wax’ beforehand — but couldn’t quite pull it off and figured I was better off just spending time with the family.

My heart is full from fish fries, gravel rides, long runs, Kwik Trip, lake swims, silly Novi-isms, great conversations, and a goofy golf tournament (yes, I played a round of golf…well, nine holes on a par-27, lakes country course with a $10, on your honor green fee….).

The big news: SLC gets the Games — with sinister strings attached

Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics recently. It all sounded fine and dandy until I started digging into specifics. Let’s just say, the Games are coming to the U.S. — for now — with some strings attached.

Interestingly, when this announcement was made, two narratives took shape. There was the ‘happy-games-press-release’ narrative and the ‘real story’ narrative.

From U.S. Ski and Snowboard:

(Salt Lake City, UT) – July 24, 2024 — Salt Lake City, Utah has been selected to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, a decision made during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Paris, France, on July 24, 2024. The historic decision marks the fifth time the Winter Olympic Games have been held in the USA and 32 years since Utah last hosted the world.

The anticipation for the 2034 Games is already building, with the Olympics tentatively scheduled from February 10-26 and the Paralympics from March 10-19, 2034. This nomination places Utah in a unique position, continuing America’s proud legacy of hosting the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, with previous events in Lake Placid (1932, 1980), Olympic Valley (1960), and Salt Lake City (2002).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has a strong history with the Games. More than 40% of Team USA is made up of U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes traditionally win more than 60% of medals earned at the Games. The Utah Olympics are particularly exciting, as U.S. Ski & Snowboard is headquartered in Park City, Utah at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFit.

The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled to use 13 existing venues from the 2002 Games alongside a single temporary venue. The venues will span the state, with skiing and snowboarding events expected to be hosted at Deer Valley Resort, Solider Hollow Nordic Center, Park City Mountain, Snowbasin Resort, the Utah Olympic Park, and a temporary structure for freeski and snowboard big air in downtown Salt Lake City.

“We are thrilled to have Salt Lake City, Utah formally selected to host another Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, who was at the bid announcement in Paris. “We know that the Games helps to inspire the world and the next generation of athletes, and we are looking forward to being strong supporters and ambassadors of the Games in our home of Utah.”

“I’m so excited and honored to be part of the team officially bringing the Olympics back to Salt Lake City!” said Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who was part of the presentation in Paris and is Chair of Athlete Experience for the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid committee. “This feels like a full circle moment for me, remembering the magic of my first Olympics here in 2002. As Chair of Athlete Experience for Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, my focus is on creating an unparalleled experience not just for the athletes, but for the families who support them every step of the way. Salt Lake City is such a special place, and I’m excited to share it with the world again.”

And here is Graham Dunbar’s Associated Press story:

PARIS (AP) — What was expected to be a simple coronation of Salt Lake City as the 2034 Winter Olympic host turned into complicated Olympic politics Wednesday, as the IOC pushed Utah officials to end an FBI investigation into a suspected doping coverup.

The International Olympic Committe formally awarded the 2034 Winter Games to Salt Lake in an 83-6 vote, but only after a contingent of Utah politicians and U.S. Olympic leaders signed an agreement that pressures them to lobby the federal government.

The International Olympic Committee is angry about an ongoing U.S. federal investigation of suspected doping by Chinese swimmers who were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Games despite positive drug tests. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted Chinese explanations for the tests, and U.S. officials are now investigating that decision under an anti-conspiracy law passed after the Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Winter Games.

President Thomas Bach wants to make sure WADA is the lead authority on doping cases in Olympic sports, especially with the Summer Olympics headed to Los Angeles in 2028. The IOC added a clause to Salt Lake’s host contract, effectively demanding that local organizers — including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox — push to shut down the investigation or risk losing the Olympics.

“That was the only way that we could guarantee that we would get the Games,” Cox said after the announcement. If the U.S. does not respect the “supreme authority of WADA, the governor said, ”they can withdraw the Games from us.”

Even in the world of Olympic diplomacy, it was a stunning power move to force government officials to publicly agree to do the IOC’s lobbying.

The story continues. I suggest you give it a read.

A couple quick, eye-opening takeaways:

1. Woah, WADA — why? Does WADA care about enforcing doping policies or are they just an arm ready to do the IOC’s bidding? This looks really, really bad.
2. Why is the USOPC — and the IOC, for that matter — not backing up USADA and the FBI investigation? This is confusing to me. From the IOC’s perspective, doesn’t USADA’s track record warrant some respect? I mean, Travis Tygart took down Lance Armstrong, the most dominant American in a European sport in history. If USADA was corrupt, the cyclist — with his 7-TDF victories and billion-dollar cancer foundation — would be the last person it would try to take down. Just the opposite: the incentive to cover up any doping would have been high for USADA, but Tygart went after Armstrong and took him down. WADA and the IOC should remember that.
3. Am I the only one who feels awkward reading a U.S. Ski and Snowboard press release celebrating the 2034 Games going to SLC without mentioning this crazy power move by the IOC? Part of me understands the NGB’s angle in the press release. Part of me doesn’t. On the one hand, maybe it’s just too early. Maybe energy and excitement are the things USSS wants to champion at this point. Plus, maybe USSS is being pressured to keep a happy, positive vibe around this news, lest the country just loses the Games entirely. But, I would think — if USOPC is truly for clean sport — they would get behind the organization (USADA) that is actively doing something to ensure it. I wouldn’t expect them to fall in line with WADA, who at the very least, should have nothing to hide (if they’re telling the truth) and at the very worst, could be implicit in covering up doping. I get the stakes: backing USADA means potentially losing the Games….but isn’t that what integrity is about?
4. Given the size of this story, it’s crazy how many people in sports and society in general were completely oblivious to this ‘scandal.’ Heck, I was in the same boat right away. I discovered all of this crazy USADA/WADA/IOC alphabet soup drama searching for Lindsey Vonn content for work. Needless to say, I’m impressed with Graham Dunbar’s reporting, and I suggest we stay on the scent until this plays out.
5. How likely is it that SLC hosts the 2034 Games? Right now, I say 93%. SLC is in a good spot because 1) the IOC doesn’t really have another choice (all the more reason the USOPC should have stood its ground) and 2) If SLC lost the Games, the financial consequences could be massive for the IOC. Would, for example, the U.S. boycott the Olympics — or not be allowed to compete? Talk about a loss of revenue. And I think, generally speaking, that’s all the IOC actually cares about….

What will be the big cross-country ski storylines in 2034?

Klaebo will be 37. Diggins will be 42 going on 43. Is there a chance that either of those athletes will figure heavily into the cross-country ski storylines?

If not, who will be the headliner on the men’s and women’s side?

Will the young crop of Americans continue to develop such that this Olympics will be like Vancouver was for Canada in 2010?

Here’s a few predictions:

1. Klaebo will still be around. Let’s hope he is, anyway… If this Olympics was in some exotic location, I’d say no way, but I envision Klaebo being the Lebron of skiing — enjoying a 20-plus year career where he is at or near the top from start to finish. Plus, Klaebo 1) will only be 37, which isn’t old at all (Lebron is like 100 and plays BASKETBALL), 2) has a direct connection to Park City and 3) understands and genuinely embraces his role as the superstar of the sport. He takes seriously his stewardship of the spread to other continents, which was very evident in Minneapolis. The only things I see preventing him from a fifth Olympics are boredom from winning all the time (and perhaps already having cemented his place as the GOAT of the sport), a major injury, or failing to make the team. The 50k in 2034 will be a classic race…what if Klaebo somehow still hasn’t won one of those by then?
2. If I were Diggins, this is what I’d do: compete through the 2027 World Championships, then retire, start a family, and take a few years off. In 2031 or 2032, if the fire is there (or returns), make a Johaug-like comeback and target the individual start skate or a relay or something…Honestly, Diggins deserves a spot on the team if she wants it, almost no matter what haha.
3. I tend to think the big American star at this Olympics will be someone we don’t really know all that well right now. I like Haley Brewster’s trajectory, and by 2034, she could be at her prime. On the men’s side, keep your eyes on Logan Drevlow, who won a MN state title as a freshman and also took three golds at the U16 Junior Nationals in Lake Placid last March.
4. This guy will come back and he’ll win three golds.
5. None of the Swedish big five (Ebba, Frida, Maja, Linn, Jonna) will be at this Olympics. But, Calle Halfvarsson will somehow compete in all the events as a 45-year-old (ok, that’s a bit of a stretch).

Coming at you soon

I fully expect to finish watching the Olympics this week and produce a SederSkier Podcast to discuss all the drama by Sunday at the latest…

Happy to be back. Keep on Striving. Keep on Skiing.

SederSkier