October 22, 2015 (Midway, UT) – The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation released a joint committee report outlining considerations and process steps to integrate Soldier Hollow under Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation oversight. With shared Olympic heritage and complementary missions, the two foundations represent active sport venues from the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games and 2002 Paralympic Winter Games.
Representatives of both foundations formed a joint committee to explore organizational integration. The committee conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of complementary strengths, shared missions, and business practices. Emphasis was placed on exploring capital development plans and financial and operational efficiencies. The joint committee reportoutlines the findings.
Benefits of the proposed integration include: alignment of Utah’s Olympic legacy efforts while ensuring long-term sustainability of each venue; further positioning of Utah as a premier Olympic winter sport training and event destination; and demonstrate key practices to the world how to transform Olympic venues into dynamic community resources.
The respective boards of the two foundations unanimously approved motions to advance efforts towards integration. On October 21, Bill Stenquist, Board Chair of Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation, and Colin Hilton, President and CEO of Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, signed a letter of intent memorializing the board motions and recommendations of the joint committee report.
Soldier Hollow, located within Wasatch Mountain State Park in Heber Valley, was the 2002 Olympic Winter Games site for cross country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic Paralympic events. In partnership with Utah State Parks, the venue offers year-round recreation opportunities including youth and elite level Nordic competitions, winter season sport programs, public tubing, and a host of successful summer events including the popular Solider Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship.
Currently, Solider Hollow has successfully continued a sport legacy in the areas of cross country skiing and biathlon while providing a vibrant community resource for Utah residents. In order for the organization to maintain and upgrade the venue as well as plan for future growth, the Solider Hollow Legacy Foundation board initiated discussions with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation about integration opportunities.
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation which manages two 2002 Olympic Winter Games venues – Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns Township and Utah Olympic Park in Park City – represents one of the most successful Olympic legacy models in the world. Well-positioned to launch a number of project initiatives, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has proven that Olympic venues can evolve, stay relevant, and ultimately, provide communities with access to sport opportunities for all ages and abilities.
Both foundations have successfully utilized a unique business model that leverages revenues from public activities to subsidize sports programming and events. This has translated into year-round activity, programming, community events, and sport competitions serving a broad spectrum of users.
Quotes:
Bill Stenquist, Board Chair, Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation
The Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation board recognized that the organization was at a critical juncture and desired to move beyond the status quo. Knowing that strategic progress would be difficult without outside support, we sought out the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, whose shared history and vision along with expertise in operational, financial, and strategic planning made for an ideal partner.
Courtland Nelson, Founding Member and Board Member, Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation
I’m very proud of Soldier Hollow. Many people worked extremely hard to build this competition venue for the 2002 Winter Games. Post Olympics, we wanted to create a four-season multi-generational sports complex for healthy, outdoor activities. Over the last decade, Soldier Hollow has matured into a very successful venue. However, it is time to look to the future and create a new platform to extend sport opportunities for future generations.
Luke Bodensteiner, Board Chair, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation; Board Member, Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation
The opportunity to bring this iconic venue where all cross country skiing and biathlon competitions were held during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games under the Utah Olympic Legacy umbrella is absolutely the right action at the right time and will further consolidate an exemplary Olympic legacy.
Colin Hilton, President and CEO, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
Soldier Hollow is an amazing facility and there is great opportunity to further align these two thriving Olympic Legacy organizations. I look forward to bringing our broad community focus and committed energy to the Heber Valley.
About Solider Hollow Legacy Foundation
A non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Midway, Utah, SHLF oversees the facilities and programming of the Soldier Hollow venue, which hosted the cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games. Today, Soldier Hollow is a year-round facility focused on recreational, youth, and elite level cross-country skiing, biathlon and other related sports programs. Soldier Hollow also provides winter snow tubing and hosts multiple events during the summer. At all times, the organization and its staff work to promote the Olympic and Paralympic ideals, and expand opportunities for people in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit SoldierHollow.com or call 435-654-2002.
About Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is a Utah nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization responsible for managing and maintaining world-class facilities and providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate and excel in winter sport. Inspired by the success and momentum of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games - considered by many the most successful Winter Games ever staged - the Foundation has placed a focus on embracing, engaging and involving Utah’s youth in winter sport. The Foundation supports national sport organizations and community recreational winter sport programs, as well as subsidizes the operation of two Olympic venues: Utah Olympic Oval and Utah Olympic Park. For more information, please visit UtahOlympicLegacy.org or call 435-658-4200.
