Salt Lake City, 2002

Updated September 27, 2017 | Infoplease Staff

By hosting the 19th Winter Games, Utah, an Indian word meaning “home on mountain top,” joins California, Georgia, Missouri and New York as the only U.S. states to host the Olympics. The 2002 Games will mark the end of Salt Lake City's long quest to host the games, a story that included failed bids in 1972, 1976 and 1998.

Located in north-central Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City and the surrounding towns of Heber City, Ogden, Park City and West Valley City have a combined population of 1.5 million, making it the largest urban area ever to host the Winter Games.

The sports program at Salt Lake City will be the largest in history. There will be 78 events—10 more than Nagano—occuring at five city (indoor) and five mountain (oudoor) facilities.

Here is a preview of what events have been added:

Skeleton: a Swiss sledding event similar to the luge, the men's event was last held in 1948 while the women's event is making its Olympic debut.

Bobsled: women's competition in the two-person discipline.

Biathlon: men's 12.5km pursuit and a women's 10km pursuit.

Cross Country: men's and women's sprint free.

Nordic Combined: an individual sprint event that consists of ski jumping from the large hill and a 7.5km cross-country race.

Short Track Speed Skating: men's and women's 1500m event.