Olympic Legacy

Economic
Utah’s economy is larger and stronger because of the Olympic Games.

• Official state estimate of economic impact: $4.8 billion in sales, 35,000 job years of employment, $1.5 billion in earnings for Utah workers.
• $100 million in Olympic profits were distributed within the community following the Games: $72 million endowment to maintain facilities, $10.2 million for Olympic Legacy Plazas, $11.5 millio n charitable donations, $7 million in USOC business credits.
• 350 venture capitalists and 600 corporate guests visited Utah during the Games. Venture capital growth in Utah reached a five-year high in 2005, tapping $249 million.
• The State of Utah hosted 8,000 local and out-of-state business executives during the Games. Some Utah companies became direct contractors for the Athens and Torino Games. Other companies have expanded or relocated in Utah for market reasons that were complimented by the hosting of the Games.
• Utah’s ski and ski-related lodging industry have enjoyed record-setting years since the Games.

Marketing Value
The Olympics put Utah on the map in a powerful way.

• 2.1 billion viewers in 160 countries and territories amassed 13.1 billion viewer hours of Olympic coverage.
• 220 thousand people visited Utah during the Games.
• In 2005, 40 million viewers in 52 countries viewed international TV coverage of events at Utah Olympic venues.
• Estimated value of print media exposure value during the Games tallied $22.9 million. Coverage included national and syndicated stories, USA Today stories, Sport’s Illustrated features and thousands of stories in major media markets.
• 2.2 million airline passengers viewed the 27-minute Bud Greenspan film called “Discover Utah.”
• Follow-on Utah advertising reached 13.7 million people in targeted markets.
• The marketing value continued with Salt Lake City’s participation in the World Pavilion Program in Torino, Italy.
• Torch relay included 11,520 torchbearers and traveled in 46 states.

Infrastructure
Utahn’s enjoy first class amenities and infrastructure improvements because of the Games.

• Skating, hockey, soccer, and other activities at the Utah Olympic Oval (Kearns) and five ice sheets (Provo, Ogden, Logan, and two in Salt Lake City).
• 2006 Utah Olympic Oval use: 20,000 public skating admissions, 80 hockey teams, 200 soccer teams, and 307 hours of figure skating.
• Other venues include Soldier Hollow (Wasatch County), Utah Olympic Park and the Alf Engen Museum (Summit County), and Cauldron Park (University of Utah).
• Housing for 3,500 students at the University of Utah’s Olympic Village.
• Transportation improvements on Trappers Loop Road, I-80 Silver Creek and Kimball Junction, and Park City infrastructure.

Winter Sports
Utah now prospers as a winter sports capital.

• Hosted or secured 17 World Cups, U.S. Championships, or Olympic trials since the Games.
• 38 USA Olympic Team members trained in Utah, including 13 who are now Utah residents.
• Selected to host the World All Arounds in Feb. 2007.
• The Utah Sports Commission has been involved in over 150 youth and other sports events since the games, including the Moscow-Utah Youth Games.
• In addition to winter sport equipment and apparel leaders Marker Ltd., Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., and Petzl America, Utah is now home to Rossignol, Scott, Goode Ski Technologies, and Descente North America, Inc.

International
Utah’s Olympic halo reached all corners of the globe.

• President George W. Bush, eight cabinet members, and leaders from 77 other countries attended the Games.
• Utah/Salt Lake City’s image and awareness changed dramatically after the Games.
• Surveys in France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and The Netherlands yielded these results:
  - One in five respondents had knowledge of Salt Lake City as the host city pre-Olymp ics; one in three knew after the
  Games.
  - One in ten respondents had knowledge of Utah as the host state pre-Olympics; one in six knew after the Games.
  - Europeans images of Utah’s mountains and deserts increased dramatically as a result of the Olympics.
• The Utah Governor’s Office led post-Olympic trade missions to five countries: Canada, China, Mexico, Greece, and Torino.

Community
The unity, patriotism and passion of the Olympics touched every Utahn.

• The human drama and satisfaction of sport – personal best, joy of effort, and fair competition – continue to inspire Utahns.
• The Cultural Olympiad remains part of the community as symbolized by the Chihuly “Torch” at Abravanel Hall.
• More than 100 thousand trees were planted in Utah as a living Olympic
• legacy; 15 million trees were planted worldwide.
• 138,000 school children attended the Olympics at no charge.
• Every Utah high school received an Olympic torch.
• Volunteerism remains alive and well in Utah.

Sources: Utah Athletic Foundation, Utah Sports Commission, David Eccles School of Business/University of Utah, Utah Office of Tourism, Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, and Salt Lake Chamber.