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35-646: Like the Utah Olympic Oval and Soldier Hollow , the park was designed and built specifically for the Olympic games under the supervision of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC). The 1989 Olympic referendum, passed by Utahns, allowed for taxpayer money to fund a winter sports park, which would be used if Salt Lake City won its bid for either the 1998 or 2002 Winter Olympics; Olympic funds and revenue would then be used to repay

70-519: A competitive running track is 400 m (1,312.3 ft). Some tracks are not built to this specification, instead being a legacy to imperial distances such as 440 yd (402.336 m), equivalent to a quarter of a mile. Prior to rule changes in 1979, distances in Imperial units were still used in the United States. Some facilities build tracks to fit the available space, with one of

105-575: A concession, gifts and gear shop, plus skate rentals. Skating lessons are also offered by the foundation. The U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team is currently headquartered in the oval, and has been since January 2001. In 2024, the south sheet was converted to serve as the temporary practice rink for the Utah Hockey Club of the NHL while a permanent facility at the Shops at South Town in nearby Sandy

140-410: A consistent surface for competitors to test their athletic ability unencumbered by adverse weather conditions. Historically, various forms of dirt, rocks, sand, and crushed cinders were used. Many examples of these varieties of track still exist worldwide. Starting in 1954, artificial surfaces using a combination of rubber and asphalt began to appear. An artificial warm-up track was constructed for

175-803: A higher standard, making a Mondotrack one of the most expensive systems to use. Examples of Mondotracks were used for the 1996 Summer Olympics (since removed from the Centennial Olympic Stadium ) in Atlanta , Georgia , United States; 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens , Greece ; 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing , China; 2012 Summer Olympics in London , United Kingdom and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . Another player in

210-423: Is being built. The rink was narrowed from Olympic size to 200ft x 85ft, the standard measurement for NHL ice, and a team base was built in an unused area of the building. The oval is one of the world's fastest indoor skating tracks, mainly because of its elevation. It is the world's highest indoor oval at 4,675 feet (1,425 m) above sea level, 1,000 feet (300 m) higher than Calgary's Olympic Oval , site of

245-435: Is called Mondotrack . The surface differs from the particles stuck in adhesion techniques, in that they are more of a rubber carpet, cut to size then tightly seamed together (in the linear direction along the lane lines). This form of construction gives a more consistent bounce (or energy return) and traction. Because of the tight fit specifications required for manufacture, construction surrounding these sites also has to be of

280-468: The 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne , Australia. During the 1960s many of these tracks were constructed; examples still exist today. In the mid-1960s Tartan tracks were developed, surfaced with a product by 3M . The name Tartan is a trademark, but it is sometimes used as a genericized trademark . This process was the first to commercialize a polyurethane surface for running tracks, though it

315-447: The 1988 Winter Olympics (which is the second highest). Because of the elevation, there is less air resistance for the skaters and less oxygen frozen into the ice, making it harder, denser and faster. During the 2002 Olympic games all ten speed skating events held in the oval set Olympic records. The oval still maintains six, thanks in part to the relatively low elevation of the 2006 , 2010 , and 2014 Olympic Ovals. Before and after

350-518: The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to slow down construction on the park, extending its planned opening date. Four of the park's ski jumps (18, 38, 65 and 90 meters) were completed and opened on December 12, 1992, and were formally dedicated in a ceremony on January 9, 1993. On July 31, 1993 the summer training facilities at the park, which included a ski jumping pool, were dedicated. The park's day lodge, located near

385-425: The 1989 Olympic referendum would be used to construct the oval, and would be repaid with profits from the games. The plans called for using $ 3.7 million of tax payer money to construct the oval, which would be an outdoor facility. If Salt Lake City won its 1995 bid for the 2002 games, Olympic funds would be used to cover the oval, and build an ice sheet in the center of the track. By the time the groundbreaking ceremony

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420-422: The 2002 Winter Olympics and plans called to use the track to host all three sliding events. While construction was progressing on the track, Salt Lake City won its 1995 bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics, and plans were developed to expand the park. On 9 October 1997, SLOC okayed the plan to spend an additional $ 48 million to upgrade and expand the recently completed park. The plans called for replacing and moving

455-718: The Alf Engen Ski Museum and the Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum), a day lodge, a summer aerial training splash pool, zip lines, and a mountain coaster. With Salt Lake City to host the Winter Olympics again in 2034 , the park will be used again for the games. Utah Olympic Oval The Utah Olympic Oval is an indoor speed skating oval located 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Salt Lake City , in Kearns, Utah . The Oval

490-399: The Olympic games, the oval would be used for inline skating during the summer and ice skating during the winter months. After Salt Lake City won the 2002 Olympic bid on June 16, 1995, Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) began the design process for a permanent cover for the oval. During the cover's design process it was decided to pull up and replace the entire original oval. The new oval

525-692: The Olympics, the oval has hosted many local and international speed skating competitions. Holding the honor of Fastest Ice on Earth has created an unofficial rivalry between the Utah Olympic Oval and the Calgary Olympic Oval , although the Utah oval holds 11 world records and Calgary only 1. Running track An all-weather running track is a rubberized, artificial running surface for track and field athletics. It provides

560-850: The Oval during the 2002 games, the largest number of world records ever set at one event. Along with Soldier Hollow and the Utah Olympic Park , the Utah Olympic Oval was built specifically for the 2002 Winter Olympics. On October 5, 1992, the Utah Sports Authority chose the Oquirrh Park Fitness Center in Kearns as the site for the 2002 Olympic Oval, beating out other locations in West Valley City , Sandy and downtown Salt Lake City . Funds from

595-512: The Utah Olympic Oval was 10 percent the cost of the Richmond Olympic Oval used during the 2010 Winter Olympics . The oval hosted the long-track speed skating events during the 2002 Winter Olympics . For the competitions, temporary seating was installed and the oval had a capacity for about 5,200 spectators, plus press members. All available tickets for the venue's events were sold, allowing 53,056 spectators to witness events in

630-451: The base of the jumps, was completed in late summer 1993. A groundbreaking ceremony on June 3, 1994 signaled the start of construction on the bobsled-luge track. The track was completed December 28, 1996 and its grand opening ceremony was held on January 25, 1997. The very first run on the new track was by luger Jon Owen on January 10, 1997. Following the completion of the track it was decided to reintroduce skeleton as an Olympic event during

665-459: The existing 90-meter ski jump and building a new 120-meter jump. Also, the construction of starting houses on the track, chairlifts, storage buildings, new access roads, pedestrian bridges, parking lots, and sewer and water lines were all part of the expansion plan. The upgrade of the park began during the Summer of 1998, with the majority of expansion work completed by fall 2000. Ownership of the park

700-402: The first day of competitions, a press briefing to introduce the facility was held. Members of SLOC with the design and construction teams were present to introduce the oval to the public. The completed building has 275,000 square feet (25,500 m ), roughly the size of four football fields, it is 310 feet (94 m) wide by 655 feet (200 m) long, with a ceiling 55 feet (17 m) high;

735-492: The governing body for international track and field competitions, publishes very specific regulations for the conduct of Global Championship or International level track meets under their jurisdiction. Since the early 1980s, the manufacturer of the surfaces selected for most championship meets has been the Italian company, Mondo , again the trademarked brand name becoming used as a genericized trademark. Mondo's track surface

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770-492: The low ceiling allowed the temperature inside to be easily maintained at the appropriate conditions. The completed facility contained the 400-meter oval skating track, which surrounded two international size hockey ice sheets. Under the ice sheets and track are 33 miles (53 km) of freeze tubes which keep the concrete base at 18 °F (−8 °C) year-round. In the end the oval ended up costing $ 30 million, and on his blog, ex-SLOC CEO and politician, Mitt Romney states that

805-747: The marketplace is the formerly BASF -owned company Conica, based in Switzerland, now part of the Serafin Group (Munich, Germany), which can boast the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin , Germany (where Usain Bolt improved his 100 metres and 200 metres world records), along with other record hosting venues like Stadio Olimpico in Rome , Italy. The proper length of the first lane of

840-461: The most notable examples of this being Franklin Field , where the 400 metre distance is achieved in lane 4. Olympic tracks in the early 20th century were of other lengths: each lane of the track could (by IAAF rules should) be as wide as 122 cm (4.00 ft), though the majority of American tracks are built to NFHS high school specifications that allow smaller lanes. The IAAF also specifies

875-666: The oval. It is slated to again host long-track speed skating events during the 2034 Winter Olympics . Following the 2002 Olympics, SLOC turned ownership of the oval over to the Utah Athletic Foundation, who also owns and manages the Utah Olympic Park near Park City . The oval currently houses the original 400-meter oval skating track, two international size ice sheets, a 442-meter running track , an eight-lane 110-meter sprint running track, weight room, locker facilities and team rooms, meeting rooms,

910-523: The product and selling it for this first use in the Olympics. An all-weather surface has become standard ever since. Another Tartan track was installed on a temporary basis for the 1968 United States Olympic Trials held at altitude at Echo Summit , California , before being moved to South Tahoe Middle School , where it survived for almost 40 years. There are other techniques that distribute small chunks of rubber then adhere them in place with various polyurethane or latex substances. World Athletics ,

945-561: The roof above the oval. On April 19, 2000, as construction was progressing on the oval, some of the bolts holding the roof's cables sheared, causing part of the roof to collapse. Following an investigation into the cause of the accident and repairs, construction resumed in July 2000. Construction on the oval was further delayed when three weeks after the concrete floor was poured, the freeze tubes in numerous spots were found to have moved off their rebar supports and had floated out of alignment. It

980-502: The state. In 1990 the Utah Sports Authority announced their plans to build the park, which included ski jumps and a bobsled-luge track, in Bear Hollow near Park City. Before construction on the park began, it faced criticism from local landowners and citizens of Summit County , concerned over traffic and environmental effects. Construction got underway following a groundbreaking ceremony on May 29, 1991. The original estimated park cost

1015-435: Was $ 26.3 million and included the ski jumps, bobsled-luge track, and a day lodge, all to be completed by September 1992. The majority of the park was designed and engineered by Eckhoff, Watson, and Preator Engineering, and its joint venture partner, Van Boerum & Frank Associates, all of Salt Lake City. After Salt Lake City lost its bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympics in 1991, the Utah Sports Authority gained permission from

1050-474: Was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and it hosted the long-track speed skating events for the 2002 games , a role it is expected reprise for the 2034 Winter Olympics . Inside the facility the 400 meter skating track surrounds two international sized ice sheets, and is itself surrounded by a 442-meter running track . Due to its high altitude, 4,675 feet (1,425 m), and the associated low air resistance, ten Olympic records and nine world records were set at

1085-537: Was designed by Gilles Stransky Brems Smith of Salt Lake City, and constructed by Layton Construction. Work on the new oval began in June 1999 at an estimated cost of $ 27 million. To keep those costs down, and give an unobstructed view of the ice, the roof would be constructed similar to a suspension bridge . Between twenty-four masts, twelve on each side of the building, steel cables nearly 400 feet (120 m) long and 3.5 inches (89 mm) in diameter were strung, suspending

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1120-539: Was determined that entire floor was going to have to be torn up and replaced, or else the ice might not freeze evenly. After a new floor was poured, and had cured, the final coat of ice was added to the track on February 12, 2001; just in time for four Olympic speed skaters to test out the new venue later that afternoon. The first event held in the new oval was the World Single Distance Championships , on March 9–11, 2001. On March 9, 2001,

1155-491: Was held in May 1994, the price tag had increased to $ 4.1 million, with an expected completion date sometime that December. Because of cold temperatures and a wet spring, cement for the oval could not be poured, and the oval didn't open until September 1, 1995, almost a year behind schedule. The oval was formally dedicated in a ceremony, attended by Olympian Cathy Turner , on January 12, 1996. Prior to it being covered and used during

1190-512: Was originally conceived for horse racing. Many Tartan tracks were installed worldwide, including at many of the top universities in the United States. Among that list was a Tartan track installed in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario , home of the 1968 Summer Olympics at Mexico City , which were the first global championships to use such a track. Olympic shot put champion Bill Nieder was instrumental in developing

1225-589: Was transferred from the Utah Sports Authority to SLOC on July 14, 1999. Soon after, in Spring 2000, the name "Utah Winter Sports Park" became the "Utah Olympic Park'. The park still serves as a training center for Olympic and development level athletes, as well as a recreational highlight in the state. Other facilities in addition to the ski jumps and bobsled track located on-site include the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center (which houses

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