Mayor Ryan Dickey, Councilmember Tana Toly, and Acting City Manager Jodi Emery from Park City are packing their bags for Italy as part of a delegation set to observe the ins and outs of Olympic operations at the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Park City Municipal confirmed the trio's participation in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Observers Program, aimed at prepping cities for their own Olympic stints, in this case, Utah's homecoming to the winter sports spectacle come 2034. The delegation will hit the ground in Cortina d’Ampezzo to scrutinize everything from the thrill of mountain operations to the nitty-gritty of public safety protocols.
A closer look reveals that Park City is all too familiar with Olympic fanfare, having been a central figure in the 2002 Games. This time around, "it’s my responsibility to learn directly from communities hosting the Games," Mayor Dickey stressed in a statement, as per Park City, pinpointing the treasure trove of on-site learning as essential for Park City's own preparations. The mayor, who is also posted as Vice Chair of the Olympic Host Communities Committee, isn't the city's only heavy-hitter seeking wisdom from the world stage.
Councilmember Tana Toly, the link between Park City and the Olympic bid, is zeroed in on maximizing local benefits and fortifying regional partnerships to stimulate economic growth. Acting City Manager Jodi Emery, at the helm of Park City's municipal crew, will hone in on ensuring the city and its services are in top form and that the locals are on board the Olympic train. "Participants engage with organizers, explore venue communities firsthand, and bring those lessons back to Utah as we prepare for 2034," Kelsey Berg, Utah 2034 Director of Government Relations, told Park City.
