Oppose Efforts to Silence Olympic Athletes' Free Speech

I am writing to express serious concern about recent attempts to silence Olympic athletes who express their views, particularly in light of Governor Spencer Cox's February 10, 2026 press conference in Milan criticizing media for asking athletes about political issues. This raises fundamental questions about whether Utah should host the 2034 Winter Olympics if our government officials are working to stifle constitutionally protected speech. When freestyle skier Hunter Hess shared on February 4 that he had "mixed emotions" about representing the United States during a time when ICE agents killed two protesters in Minnesota, he was exercising the same free speech rights Governor Cox claims to value. President Trump responded by calling Hess "a real Loser" on Truth Social. Rather than defending an athlete's right to speak honestly, Governor Cox blamed journalists for asking the questions, saying "I hate the questions you ask the athletes." This approach is deeply troubling. Olympic athletes are not children who need protection from difficult questions. They are adults representing our nation on the world stage, and they have every right to express their perspectives on the country they represent. Governor Cox's attempt to redirect blame onto reporters rather than address the substance of athletes' concerns or the president's hostile response suggests a coordinated effort to suppress dissent. The Olympic Charter emphasizes human dignity and mutual understanding. Hosting the 2034 Games in Salt Lake City should mean Utah upholds these values, not undermines them. I urge you to publicly affirm that Olympic athletes have the right to speak their minds without fear of government officials attempting to silence them or their critics. Our state should demonstrate that we can host an international event while respecting the constitutional rights that define American democracy. Will you commit to protecting athletes' free speech rights as Utah prepares to host the 2034 Olympics?