In December of last year, Salt Lake City - the capital and most populous municipality of Utah – was selected as the United States' candidate for a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC), now known as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), were choosing between Denver and Salt Lake City in their internal candidature process.

Initially three candidates had expressed interest, but in November 2018 the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition withdrew from the process.

The USOC Board stated that despite its selection of Salt Lake City, it had not determined when a formal bid may occur.

It was claimed the selection affords the USOC and Salt Lake City the opportunity to move forward with the International Olympic Committee's ongoing dialogue phase.

Larry Probst, the then outgoing chair of the USOC, stated that Salt Lake City, the 2002 host, provided the best option for the US in bringing the Winter Olympics and Paralympics back to the country.

As reported by the Associated Press, the 84-year-old Eccles, who served on the Salt Lake 2002 Organising Committee, is hopeful of a bid in 2030 as oppose to waiting until 2034.

"I'm not sure I'll make it to 100," he joked.

The expansion of Utah Olympic Park will lead to the renovation of training facilities.

The venue was built for Salt Lake City 2002 and hosted bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, ski jumping and Nordic combined events during those Games.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that, according to officials, the expansion project will add as many as 10 new ski runs over the next five years, including some that will be suitable for staging world-class competitions.

Also planned are new mountain bike trails on around 30 acres of mountainside.

In January of this year, it was revealed officials behind Salt Lake City's potential bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics were in the process of drafting a plan on how to collaborate with Los Angeles 2028 in areas including sponsorship and visas.

Fraser Bullock, the chief operating officer of Salt Lake City 2002 and a leader of the effort to bring the event back to the region, admitted there was a short timeframe to secure sponsors owing to Los Angeles hosting the Summer Games in 2028.

Los Angeles staging the Summer Olympics and Paralympics could pose difficulties in this area for Salt Lake City should they push ahead with a bid for 2030.

Bullock also revealed Salt Lake City was seeking cooperation with Los Angeles 2028 to bring benefits to both cities.

A joint marketing venture has already been established between the USOPC and Los Angeles 2028.