Utah 2034 hosts reception for Team USA families during first week of Italy 2026 Winter Games

The Utah 2034 organizing committee hosted a reception for family members of Team USA athletes at the Italy 2026 Winter Games.

ITALY (ABC4) — The Utah 2034 organizing committee hosted a reception for family members of Team USA athletes at the Italy 2026 Winter Games.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, the organizing committee for Utah 2034 hosted a celebratory reception for Team USA at the Starbucks Winter House in Milan during the first week of Italy 2026. The event was centered around celebrating Team USA athletes and honoring the commitment of their loved ones.

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Catherine Raney Norman, Vice President of Development and Athlete Relations at Utah 2034, spoke about the excitement of hosting Team USA families at the Winter House.

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“When we think about athletes, we think about their families first and how they have sacrificed for so many years,” she said. “We are just so grateful to welcome them here today, to celebrate them, and to cheer their athletes on here in Milan Cortina.”

There were over 100 athletes and family members in attendance, including alumni from past games. Maik Dawson, father of Team USA speedskater Casey Dawson, was in attendance at the reception. Casey Dawson, a Utah native born in Park City, represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Games and is back competing at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

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“This is our first visit to Milan,” Maik said. “We’re having a great time, and we really appreciate the state of Utah putting this on for the parents and the athletes.”

Beyond Dawson, the reception welcomed several champions from previous Winter Games, including speedskating gold medalists Apolo Anton Ohno and Bonnie Blair.

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Source: Utah News