MILAN — The ringing message from Utah 2034 organizers at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday was that the Games wouldn’t quite be the same without athletes’ families there. Those organizers, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and businesswoman Gail Miller, put on an event for athletes and th eir families at the Starbucks Winter House at Milan’s Aethos Hotel. The Winter House has been a gathering point for U.S. figure skating, hockey and speed-skating athletes during the Games, as the Olympics’ venues are spread out more than normal across Italy. The athletes and families heard from Cox, Miller and others associated with helping bring the Winter Olympics to Utah in 2034. They also enjoyed drinks and small bites while socializing and taking in the Games on TV. Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno, a retired American short track speed skater, mingled with the current crop of Olympians and families. The Winter House has served as a gathering space for Team USA’s figure skating, hockey and speed skating athletes and families during the Games. Credit: Jack Singer/Park Record Organizers for 2034 said they would like to continue focusing on family at the Utah Games, seeking to set up the Olympics’ first-ever family village at the University of Utah. “Excited for 2034,” Cox said. “We have four kids, and none of them are good athletes, and we spend all of our time driving them to athletic events. … I can’t imagine the sacrifice and dedication of all the family members here, the time, effort and tears.” Cox added that everyone’s kids are making Utah and America proud. He believes Utah’s family-first nature is why the state puts on such events and is trying to make the family village a reality. “We like to think of ourselves as the family state,” he said. “I know most delegations aren’t doing something like this for their state athletes, and there’s a reason for that. … We care about you, and in 2034 the families and athletes together because you’re part of the story.” Cox hopes to see plenty of American families crying tears of joy throughout the Games. Meanwhile, Miller wished the athletes and families the best for the rest of the Games. Miller added that being associated with building new things excites her. “I’m not a politician or diplomat, but I know something about families,” Miller said. “I also know something about athletics. … I know how important it is to communities to have athletics in the community. It brings us together and gives us something to unite us.” Tom and Dawn Stoppelmoore were at the event on Sunday before heading to the Milano Speed Skating Stadium to support son Zach’s U.S. teammate Casey Dawson, who finished the 5000m in eighth place. The Stoppelmoors are taking in Zach’s first Games, in which he’ll race the long track 500m. “It was super cool,” Dawn said about watching her son walk into the San Siro Stadium on Friday for the opening ceremony. “It was probably the thing that I looked most forward to, even more than watching him race, because it was that feeling of him representing the U.S. It’s just something that’s been his dream. … That was a really overwhelming and great moment for me.” Tom feels that being a parent gives people a new perspective and appreciation for the Games. The Stoppelmoors appreciate the camaraderie and patriotism among Team USA and its parents. “It’s phenomenal,” Dawn added. “The speed skating parents have become a family to us; everybody cheers for everybody. I love to be with them.” The Stoppelmoors hail from Des Moines, Iowa, and Zach has lived in the Salt Lake Valley to train since 2017. Dawn’s advice for how to raise an Olympian was for parents to be as hands-off as possible with their kids’ sports. “The support was always there,” she said. “We had a coach that told us that Zach was really good, and I said, ‘How do I not screw it up as a parent?’ And they said, ‘Never make it be about the win.’ You never know what him and his coach are working on, and so you shouldn’t make it be about the win. … We had to learn to let the coach be the coach.” Tom and Tammy Dunne trekked out from St. Louis, Missouri, to Milan to support their daughter Joy, a forward for the Ohio State and U.S. women’s hockey teams. Joy is the youngest player on Team USA in her first Games. “We’re incredibly excited about it and beyond blessed for sure,” Tammy said. The Dunnes arrived in Milan days before the opening ceremony and have been enjoying their daughter’s games, two dominant wins over Czechia and Finland, as well as seeing more of Europe. The Dunnes are happy that Utah 2034 helped bring athletes and families from different backgrounds together. “It’s wonderful,” Tammy added. “With the hockey team, we’re kind of isolated. We know those parents, but it’s really an honor to get to meet the other athletes’ parents. I think everybody’s journey has been similar in some fashion.” The post Utah 2034 organizers welcome athletes and families to Milan event appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less