When people think of the Olympics, they often picture the roar of the crowd, the shine of a medal, or athletes performing on the world stage. Yet the true spirit of the Games lives on far beyond those moments. At the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), the Olympic and Paralympic values of Excellence, Courage, and Equity guide our work each day. They are present in our programs, in our venues, and in the communities we serve.
These values are not abstract ideas. They are lived experiences for the young skier testing new skills at Soldier Hollow, the aerialist at Utah Olympic Park launching high into the air, and the skater at the Oval who feels welcomed into sport for the very first time. Through them, we see the power of sport to inspire growth, foster community, and build resilience.
Excellence Every Day, On and Off the Podium
Excellence is not perfection but the pursuit of continual improvement. At UOLF, we see this truth reflected every day in young athletes and seasoned competitors alike. Each year, tens of thousands of youth participate in programs across our venues. They come not only to learn how to ski, skate, or jump but to discover persistence, goal-setting, and pride in effort. A child who manages to complete their first ski loop at Soldier Hollow or skate a full lap at the Oval demonstrates excellence just as profoundly as an Olympian breaking a world record.
The Utah Olympic Oval remains a symbol of excellence in sport. Known as the “Fastest Ice on Earth,” it has hosted more than 100 world records and continues to provide athletes with a surface worthy of their highest aspirations. Excellence here is not limited to athletes at the top of their game. It extends to coaches, staff, and volunteers who ensure the environment fosters achievement at every level.
Excellence also resonates throughout Utah’s communities. Between 2019 and 2023, UOLF contributed an average of $132 million annually to the state’s economy while driving a 67 percent growth in youth sport participation. These figures reflect not only world-class facilities but also a thriving culture of sport that shapes healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities.
Courage: Taking Flight at Utah Olympic Park
Few moments capture the essence of courage more vividly than those of the aerialists at Utah Olympic Park. High above the ground, they twist, spin, and soar before landing with precision. The courage required to launch off those ramps is immense. It demands trust in training, a willingness to risk failure, and a deep belief in oneself. Each flight is a testament to the Olympic value of courage and a reminder that greatness often begins with daring to leap.
This same spirit fills the air during the many international competitions hosted across UOLF venues each year. More than 40 annual events bring the world’s best athletes to Utah, challenging them to perform on some of the most visible stages of their careers. In those moments, courage is not simply about skill but about the ability to step forward under immense pressure. Athletes know that every performance could bring triumph or disappointment, yet they still put everything on the line before a global audience.
Sport itself teaches this lesson in courage. To train and compete is to push past limits, whether it is a skater chasing another lap, a skier climbing one more hill, or an aerialist attempting a trick that once felt impossible. At Utah Olympic Park, it might be a child taking their first jump into the pool during summer aerial camps or a teenager daring to ski a steeper slope. Courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to test boundaries, proving that the Olympic spirit is alive in every individual who chooses to try.
Stepping Beyond Comfort Zones: Discoveries at Soldier Hollow
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center offers some of the most striking examples of what it means to step beyond a comfort zone. Hundreds of schoolchildren arrive each winter, many of them new to skiing. They begin cautiously, holding tightly to the fence or moving tentatively across the snow. Some are nervous about falling, while others wonder if they belong on the trails at all. Yet with encouragement, hesitation gives way to movement, and movement soon becomes exhilaration. By the end of the day, those same students are laughing, racing their friends, and proud of what they achieved.
This process of discovery is what makes Soldier Hollow such a powerful teaching ground for resilience. The lessons learned on the trails extend far beyond skiing. Students discover that growth is often uncomfortable, that failure is part of learning, and that confidence is built one small victory at a time. Sport pushes them to go farther than they thought possible, showing that limits can always be stretched.
Soldier Hollow’s impact is magnified through scale and consistency. Programs like PE Days engage hundreds of students annually, while after-school programs such as Team Soldier Hollow build on those first experiences. By helping young people embrace challenge, Soldier Hollow ensures that stepping beyond a comfort zone becomes not just a day’s activity, but a lifelong skill.
Equity: Opportunity at the Utah Olympic Oval
Equity lies at the heart of UOLF’s mission. At the Oval in Kearns, families from every background lace up skates and step onto the same ice where world records are set. Some children arrive with experience, others are just learning, yet all are welcomed with the same chance to succeed. The Oval is more than a venue for competition. It is a place where equity takes shape, ensuring that every individual has the tools and support they need to thrive.
Through our Healthy Communities and Scholarship programs, UOLF supports over 3,300 disadvantaged youth annually across Utah. From 2019 to 2023, more than $473,000 in scholarships and subsidies removed barriers to participation and promoted healthy, active lifestyles. These investments in equity improve youth mental well-being and create opportunities for thousands of children who might otherwise never experience sport.
The impact is deeply personal. As Paige Mangum, mother of Ezra, reflected: “I will forever be grateful for the kindness from the speedskating community because it was love from the athletes and coaches at the Utah Olympic Oval that gave him the gift of dreaming and the knowledge that all things are possible.” Her words capture the transformative power of equity in action, where access to sport becomes access to hope.
Community Stories: Living the Values
The values of the Games are not confined to slogans or ceremonies. They are lived out every day in our venues and programs. At Soldier Hollow, a nervous student learns to glide without holding onto the fence, discovering pride in their own perseverance. At Utah Olympic Park, an aerialist conquers fear in midair, proving that courage and confidence are built one jump at a time. At the Oval, a skater experiences for the first time what it feels like to belong in sport, regardless of background or ability.
These stories are personal, but they are also supported by the numbers. Nine out of ten parents report that their child shows greater confidence after completing a UOLF program. Seventy percent of Team Soldier Hollow youth athletes say they are more likely to remain active in sports after participating. Volunteer retention remains high, with more than 60 percent returning each year, showing that the values of sport inspire not only athletes but entire communities.
Together, these stories and statistics form a picture of values in action. They demonstrate that the Olympic and Paralympic spirit is not reserved for Games years or international stages, but is lived every day in Utah. Through excellence, courage, and equity, ordinary moments become extraordinary, shaping the future of both individuals and communities.
Utah as a Model of Olympic Spirit
The 2002 Winter Games gave Utah a legacy that continues to flourish. Today, that legacy is more than history. It is alive in healthier lifestyles, stronger leadership skills among youth, and a culture of inclusivity that grows stronger each year. Utah consistently ranks among the top five states in the nation for youth sport participation, supported by programs at Olympic legacy venues.
That legacy is also visible in the athletes themselves. Since 2002, Utah has produced more than 60 Olympians and Paralympians, many of whom trained at UOLF facilities. They carry the lessons learned on Utah’s ice, snow, and ramps into global arenas, proving that the investment in sport at home echoes across the world.
Beyond athletes, the legacy shows up in visitors. Each year, more than one million people walk through our doors, skating laps, skiing trails, watching competitions, or simply enjoying the environment where Olympic history was made. As Utah looks toward 2034 and beyond, it stands not only as a host for the Games but as a model of what it means to live Olympic values daily.
Be Part of the Legacy
The Olympic values are not reserved for athletes on the podium. They belong to everyone. Parents who enroll a child in a youth sport program, families who attend competitions, and community members who cheer from the sidelines all contribute to this living legacy.
When Utahns embrace excellence, courage, and equity, they strengthen not only the Olympic movement but also the communities we call home. The spirit of the Games is alive here, woven into classrooms, ski trails, ice rinks, and families across the state. It is a spirit that will carry forward, growing stronger with every generation that discovers what is possible when values are put into action.