In July 2024, during the Paris Olympics, IOC officials announced the selection of site for the upcoming 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics. This announcement, proclaiming the French Alps and Nice for 2030 and Salt Lake City for 2034, sparked the concept for a long-term research collaboration between the University of Utah and the Université Côte d’Azur (UCA) on issues around sustainable winter Olympic games.
This October, the project was launched in person in Salt Lake City, with researchers from UCA attending meetings with U faculty and administrators. Over 60 U faculty and similar numbers from UCA demonstrated an interest in contributing.
Cheri Daily, Executive Director for the Office for Global Engagement has been working with UCA for several years to develop collaborations. “The Olympics collaboration is exemplary of the type of deep, broad relationship we are working to develop with our international partners,” said Daily. The research partnership builds on an established history of learning abroad opportunities for students.
Dr. Caren Frost, Associate Vice President for Research Integrity, notes that “This collaboration will build a consortium of researchers working globally to create sustainable solutions that address environmental, infrastructure, and athletic needs for continuing winter Olympic endeavors for years to come.”
Over three productive days, the group brainstormed, planned and visited sites of concern for cities hosting such massive, complex events as the winter Olympics. The group also toured critical areas of watershed, transportation, and athlete performance and rehabilitation — all topics under consideration for long-term research collaborations.
Dr. Erin Rothwell, Vice President for Research, kicked off the initial meeting. “It’s wonderful to see such a large group of researchers gathered from across the U,” she said. “Interdisciplinary, international projects like this really put the U’s breadth of expertise on a global stage. We are delighted to be gathered together with our UCA collaborators in service of furthering a more sustainable Olympic Games.”
The U side of the research collaboration is being jointly managed by the Office for Global Engagement and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
For more information, or to demonstrate interest in participating, contact Cheri Daily cheri.daily@utah.edu or Caren Frost caren.frost@utah.edu