Volunteering for the 2034 Olympics From Utah Valley

Events September 30, 2026 6 min read ✓ Updated September 30, 2026

Abigail Giordano Senior Writer, Provo.com How we make Provo.com

Utah's volunteers were one of the stories of the 2002 Winter Games, and organizers say they will be again in 2034. The IOC's own description of the Games cites Utah's long-standing volunteer tradition. If you want to be part of it, the practical news is that it is too early to apply, and exactly the right time to start preparing.

How the 2002 volunteer program worked

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee launched its volunteer program in November 1998, more than three years before the Games. It ran in three phases: volunteers for pre-Games events and administrative work, the core volunteers for the Olympic Winter Games, and a separate group for the Paralympic Winter Games. One published breakdown puts the phases at about 8,000 pre-Games volunteers, 18,000 core Olympic volunteers and 6,000 for the Paralympics.

That is why the totals you will see differ. Utah 2034, the organizing committee, says more than 20,000 people served the 2002 Games; the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, counting every phase, puts Team 2002 at about 26,000.

Many roles needed no special skills. Others were demanding: a 2002 volunteer who served as an assistant to a national Olympic team recalled competing for the slot on language fluency and then training every couple of weeks for about a year at the University of Utah.

What organizers have said about 2034

Applications have not opened. As of mid-2026 the organizing committee had not announced when Games-time volunteer applications would open, and its volunteer page says it will be some years before a program is started.
The timeline. Brad Wilson, chief executive of the 2034 organizing committee, has said the program's details are not expected until after the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, that final selection and training will likely come in 2033, and that some way to register interest will come sooner.
Experience counts. Wilson has said the committee will look for applicants with previous volunteer experience.
Demand is high. Organizers say they hear from Utahns everywhere they go who want to sign up, many of them 2002 volunteers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also pledged its support for the 2034 Games, including volunteers. Church members were a large part of the 2002 volunteer force, and organizers expect the same in 2034.

How to get ready now

Because experience will count, the useful thing to do between now and the early 2030s is to volunteer at sporting events.

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation uses volunteers at competitions and events at the three 2002 venues it runs: the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns and Soldier Hollow near Midway, about 42 minutes from Provo.
World Cup events. Utah's venues host international events each winter in sports such as biathlon, ski jumping and speed skating, and they need technical volunteers. The Legacy Foundation says it can train people who want to learn.
The Utah Sports Commission brings national and international events to the state throughout the year and uses volunteers for them.
LA28. The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles opened volunteer applications in 2026, which is one way to gain Olympic experience before 2034.

Keep a record of where and when you served. It is the resume the organizers have said they will ask for.

What the Games need from Utah Valley

Utah County has one competition venue, Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, planned for Olympic hockey, and the Games will need people at every venue, in transportation and in welcoming visitors from abroad. For what the Games will and will not change here, see What 2034 Means for Utah Valley.

Practical notes

Do not wait for 2033. Experience built now is what organizers say they want.
Start with the Legacy Foundation. Its venues run events every year.
Learn a sport's technical side. Technical volunteers are especially needed.
Watch for the interest list. Organizers say a way to register interest will come before applications.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I sign up to volunteer for the 2034 Olympics?

Not yet. As of mid-2026 the organizing committee had not announced when Games-time volunteer applications would open. Its chief executive, Brad Wilson, has said the program's details are not expected until after the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, that final selection and training will likely come in 2033, and that some way to register interest will come sooner.

How many people volunteered at the 2002 Olympics?

Utah 2034 says more than 20,000 people served the 2002 Games. The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation puts Team 2002 at about 26,000, a figure that counts the pre-Games volunteers and the Paralympics as well as the core Olympic volunteers.

How can I improve my chances of being chosen?

Build a record of volunteering at sporting events. Organizers have said they will look for applicants with previous volunteer experience, and they point to the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, which uses volunteers at the Utah Olympic Park, the Utah Olympic Oval and Soldier Hollow, and to the Utah Sports Commission's events around the state.

Can I volunteer at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles?

The LA28 organizers opened volunteer applications in 2026, and Utah news coverage has pointed to it as one way for Utahns to gain Olympic experience before 2034.

Do I need special skills to volunteer?

For most roles, no. Many 2002 volunteers did general work. But the World Cup events Utah's venues host each winter need technical volunteers who understand sports such as biathlon, ski jumping and speed skating, and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation says it can train them.

When did the 2002 Olympic volunteer program start?

In November 1998, more than three years before the Games. It ran in three phases: pre-Games events and administration, the Olympic Winter Games, and the Paralympic Winter Games.

Which 2002 Olympic venues use volunteers today?

The three the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation runs: the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns and Soldier Hollow near Midway.

Is there a 2034 Olympic venue in Utah County?

One: Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, planned for Olympic hockey.

Abigail Giordano

Senior Writer

Abigail Giordano is a senior writer at Provo.com covering student life, family resources, and community events across Utah Valley. Her writing focuses on making Provo more accessible and navigable for newcomers, students, and families — the practical guides that help people feel at home faster.

Volunteering for the 2034 Olympics: How 2002's Volunteer Program Worked, and How to Get Ready Now