The Future Hosts Commission, led by Chairman Karl Stoss and accompanied by other senior executives including Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi and Director of Future Olympic Games Hosts Jacqueline Barrett, visited the state of Utah in the second week of April and the results are already being reported as very positive.

As expected, the visit was a success and the Salt Lake City-Utah Games Committee is in an excellent position to be formally selected in Paris on 24 July to organise the fifth Winter Olympic Games in the United States.

The group travelled 431 km across the state, visited 13 different sites and was hosted by nine different mayors during the four days of meetings.

Fraser Bullock, President and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Games Committee, stressed that it's not a competition, but a partnership. "It is a whole new world and we feel that partnership in every sense of the word with our IOC friends. We've deepened our friendships this week. And we look forward to working with them in this deep partnership for the next 10 years."

Karl Stoss, the Austrian Olympic leader who heads the Future Hosts Commission, cited a strong partnership between the IOC and SLC-UT 2034 as a key to success. "This is a completely new approach we're taking and it's the right one," he said. "We are not starting with a competition. We are starting with an in-depth dialogue between partners. We have found excellent venues for the Winter Olympics".

"The legacy of 2002 has been maintained at a very high level," Stoss said, highlighting the engagement with communities from young children to elite athletes. "We saw them all in your venues," Stoss added.

One of the most important points SLC-UT 2034 made to the IOC was the impact of sport on communities. SLC-UT 2034 Board Chair Catherine Raney Norman, a four-time Olympic speed skater, reiterated the positive impact sport can have on communities. "It's not just about sport and games, winning or losing. We're building people. We're building character. And we bring them together,” she said.

Looking back to 2002, she noted that the diversity of the city's population has more than doubled since then. "Most of all, we are excited about the change we will embrace as we learn how to do better," Looking back to 2002, she noted that the diversity of the city's population has more than doubled since then she added. "For 2034, these Games will be different. They have to be different. We are different, and we will be better because of the pursuit and vulnerability we bring to the table."

SLC-UT 2034 officials are optimistic about a positive report from the IOC's Future Hosts Commission. The Commission will present a report and recommendation to the IOC Executive Board at its meeting on 12-14 June, for the Executive Board members to decide whether to propose Salt Lake City - Utah 2034 for election at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on 24 July, which seems increasingly likely.