ISU President and IOC Member Jae Youl Kim and Director General Colin Smith were in Salt Lake City this weekend as the ISU World Cup Speed Skating season opened at the Utah Olympic Oval, marking the start of Olympic qualification events for speed skaters.

Alongside thrilling racing - featuring multiple record-breaking performances - ISU management met with local leaders to develop shared plans for engaging local communities ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. They also reaffirmed a mutual commitment to athlete wellbeing.

Legacy of Salt Lake City 2002 and Road to 2034

Since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the Oval has welcomed 15 ISU World Cups and produced almost every current Speed Skating world record for Olympic events. With the venue set to welcome speed skaters again for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, the ISU President and Director General Colin Smith took the opportunity to meet with local community and government leaders, the 2034 Organizing Committee, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), and US Speed Skating.

“It’s always good to be back in Salt Lake City, the fastest ice on earth,” President Kim said. “I’m very excited about the upcoming Olympics nine years from today because Salt Lake City is serving us, the skating community, as a great host for our event. I like your aspirations to inspire and unite the community through sport, and we would love to join you on the exciting journey leading up to the Olympics.”

The ISU is committed to exploring opportunities to bring Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating to Salt Lake City in the years ahead.

Connecting With Media Partners in Telling Skaters’ Stories

On Saturday, President Kim met with media, alongside Salt Lake City 2034 Organizing Committee CEO and Vice Chair Brad Wilson, UOLF President and CEO Colin Hilton, and the Huntsman Family Foundation President David Huntsman.

From left to right: David Huntsman, Jae Youl Kim, Brad Wilson and Colin Hilton speaking with media ©ISU

“Speed Skating is a sport of speed, power, and precision, for sure,” said President Kim to media. “But it's also a sport of deeply human stories. Stories of resilience, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Thank you for helping tell those stories.”

“Having President Kim here, the proximity to the Milano Cortina Games, and our amazing ice here makes this a unique combination of things to create a really fun event for Utah,” said Wilson. “It’s the first ISU World Cup that we’ve held since getting awarded the games, so this is important to us, and it’s good for our team because it gives us an ability to sharpen our skills and get ready for these events.”

Supporting Skaters Beyond the Ice: The Calm Zone

With safeguarding as a fundamental pillar of ISU Vision 2030,  the ISU Council approved the rollout of the Calm Zone at all major ISU events, including at this weekend’s World Cup. More than 110 speed skaters visited the Calm Zone created next to the Utah Olympic Oval, often just to sit, breathe, and reset before returning on the ice.

 ISU President Jae Youl Kim and Huntsman Family Foundation President David Huntsman meet the Calm Zone’s star therapy dog ©ISU

President Kim commented: “We remain deeply committed to keeping our sports clean, fair, safe, and healthy. The Calm Zone is a dedicated space for skaters to rest, recharge, and reset away from the intensity of competition. It offers low-pressure activities and has been very well received by our athletes. Sometimes even small steps can make a big difference.”

Huntsman Family Foundation President David Huntsman added: “We need to be thinking about how we take the necessary steps to make sure that we're safeguarding and protecting the athletes, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too. This is a very high priority for the organizing committee and for all of us who live here in Salt Lake City.”