The Ice Sheet at Ogden - Curling Arena

The Ice Sheet at Ogden, aka Weber County Ice Sheet, is located 35 miles north of Salt Lake City in Ogden, UT. The facility is located on the campus of Weber State University.  The facility opened in 1994 as a recreational training center for curling, ice hockey, and figure skating.

Soldier Hollow - Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing

Russia Will Punish Those Selling Overpriced Tickets at 2014 Olympics

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law imposing heavy fines for ticket touts at the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, the Kremlin said. Read more about the fines for illegal ticket sales at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Tokyo 2020 Would Host a "Compact Games"

According to a master plan, the Tokyo bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games includes a "compact Games", with competition venues and 87,000 hotel rooms concentrated within an approximate 6-mile radius in a central location. The plan also highlights a public transportation system that can carry more than 25 million passengers a day.  Read more about Tokyo's ability to host a "compact Games".

Report: USOC to Move Forward on Olympic Bidding

The Associated Press is reporting that the U.S. Olympic Committee will move forward with exploring a bid to host the Olympics in 2024 or 2026. Sources familiar with Thursday's board meeting spoke to the AP in anonymity because the group's official report had not been made public.  Read more about the recommendation to move forward on Olympic bidding.

Utah Bobsled Ride Offers Olympic Experience

The bobsled "Ride of Your Life" at Utah Olympic park offers a true Olympic experience.  The 80 mph ride, full of twists and turns down a sheet of ice, in a four-person bobsled lasts less than one minute. The driver is a professional and the three passengers are along for the ride.  Read more about the "Ride of Your Life".

Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies to Cost $52 Million

The opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia will cost $52 million. A nonprofit agency will receive a subsidy for organizing the event. The majority of the expenses include technical facilities and foreign designers.  Read more about the Sochi opening ceremonies.

Salt Lake City Reports $1.6 Billion Budget for 2026 Olympics

Salt Lake City reports the 2026 Winter Olympic Games would have a $1.6 billion operating budget and an economic impact greater than $5 billion.  Currently, the City has a budget of approximately $1 million to pursue a bid as the U.S. Candidate City.  If Salt Lake City is selected as the U.S. candidate, the budget will likely grow to over $25 million to compete internationally.

Salt Lake City, Denver, Reno and Bozeman, Mont. have expressed interest in bidding for the 2026 Games.

The USOC will report on its bidding intentions for the 2024 Summer Games and 2026 Winter Games this week.  Read more.

USOC to Meet on Future Olympic Bids

The United State Olympic Committe (USOC) Board of Directors will meet this week to review options for future Olympics. The meeting will be Wednesday and Thursday (12/19 - 12/20) in Redwood, CA. The USOC is expected to discuss U.S. bidding opportunities for the 2024 and 2026 Olympic Games. Read more.

Major Sports-Event Conference Will Tour Salt Lake City

The TEAMS Conference and Expo will visit Salt Lake City in November 2013. The conference is organized by Schneider publishing, publisher of SportsTravel, the sports world's event magazine, and Association News, America's largest magazine for association executives.

The purpose of the TEAMS Conference is to observe the long-term benefits from having hosted large-scale sporting events, none larger than the Olympics.

Amid Salt Lake City's recent announcement to compete for the 2026 Olympic Games, the city will showcase its infrastructure, new hotels, ski amenities and the overall Utah quality of life.

Read more about the TEAMS Conference and Expo.