Live
ePaper
Search
Home > Sports > We aren't mixing religion and politics say Utah 2034 over Mormon church donation

We aren't mixing religion and politics say Utah 2034 over Mormon church donation

Written By: Indianews Syndication
Last Updated: February 4, 2026 01:00:18 IST

VIDEO SHOWS: MIXED ZONE INTERVIEW WITH FRASER BULLOCK, EXECUTIVE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT OF UTAH 2034 / SOUNDBITE FROM IOC VICE PRESIDENT PIERRE-OLIVIER BECKERS-VIEUJANT / SOUNDBITE FROM  FIS PRESIDENT JOHAN ELIASCH / B-ROLL  SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 3, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)  1. FRASER BULLOCK BEING INTERVIEWED IN THE MIXED ZONE  2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRASER BULLOCK, EXECUTIVE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT OF UTAH 2034, SAYING:      "We are thrilled with the support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because they have so many key resources that will enable us to put on the games. Without them, we don't have medals plaza right downtown. Without them, we don't have operational compounds. And their support is vital in terms of getting the volunteers we need with all of the language skills that are essential to hosting a games. So from our perspective, they're a critical, important partner. And we're so excited that they're supporting us." 3. LAPEL PIN ON BULLOCK'S JACKET  4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRASER BULLOCK, EXECUTIVE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT OF UTAH 2034, SAYING:     "Yeah, well, we're not mixing religion and the Olympics. We are…. we have a partner who's willing to give us resources to make the games. This isn't about proselytizing or anything else. It's about welcoming the world. And they're going to help us do that." 5. UTAH 2034 CEO BRAD WILSON BEING INTERVIEWED IN MIXED ZONE  6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRASER BULLOCK, EXECUTIVE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT OF UTAH 2034, SAYING ON CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES:     "It doesn't impact us because we're eight years out. We've got a long time. The world is going to change. The United States is going to change. We just put our heads down and prepared to put on the best games possible." 7. FRASER BULLOCK BEING INTERVIEWED IN THE MIXED ZONE  8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC VICE PRESIDENT PIERRE-OLIVIER BECKERS-VIEUJANT SAYING ON KIRSTY COVENTRY STANDING UP FOR 'OLYMPIC VALUES' BEFORE LA OLYMPICS:     "Yes. Yes, she is very, and we are very strong in wanting to to defend the Olympic values in our mandate, in our scope where we can make a difference. We understand politics. We live in a world where politics is all around the Olympic movement, but we don't have to lead politics or be taken into political games. And that's where I think is where she wants to draw the clear limit in a way that nobody will raise questions about." 9. FIS CHAIRMAN JOHAN ELIASCH BEING INTERVIEWED  10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIS PRESIDENT JOHAN ELIASCH SAYING ON HIS SUPPORT FOR IOC'S NEUTRAL ATHLETE SCHEME :     "Now, what we can say here about the scheme itself is that we've had to implement it on fairly short notice. It takes a lot of work, but it is really important that we all put in this effort in the interest of the athletes. And remember, these athletes, they will not wear the team suit. They will not have their flag. They will be participating as individual, neutral athletes." 11. FIS CHAIRMAN JOHAN ELIASCH BEING INTERVIEWED  STORY: Organisers of the Utah 2034 Winter Olympics welcomed a donation from the Church of the Latter-day Saints on Tuesday (February 3), saying it would help fund vital elements of the games. Speaking to media on the sidelines of an International Olympic Committee conference at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Fraser Bullock, President of the Utah Organising Committee, said without the pledge of money and church land there would be no medal plaza and a thinned out volunteer programme. "From our perspective, they're a critical, important partner," he said. "And we're so excited that they're supporting us." Bullock insisted that the 2034 event would not be mixing the Olympics and religion. The Church of the Latter-day Saints, founded nearly 200 years ago, has its headquarters in Salt Lake City. "We have a partner who's willing to give us resources to make the games," said Bullock. "This isn't about proselytizing or anything else. It's about welcoming the world. And they're going to help us do that." As well as an undisclosed cash donation, the Church of the Latter-day Saints will also offer its land for Olympic infrastructure, while Utah 2034 will draw on church members for its volunteer programme in the same way it did in 2002, when Salt Lake City last hosted the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile on Tuesday IOC Vice President Pierre-Olivier Beckers Vieujant said IOC President Kirsty Coventry would not be afraid to stand up for Olympic values ahead of LA 2028. "We live in a world where politics is all around the Olympic movement, but we don't have to lead politics or be taken into political games," he said. "And that's where I think is where she wants to draw the clear limit in a way that nobody will raise questions about." (Production: Noemie Olive, Iain Axon)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

MORE NEWS

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?