(Salt Lake City) The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee officially approved Salt Lake City as a U.S. candidate city for a future Winter Olympics on Thursday.

The president of the committee declared that even if we remained flexible, the preference would be an Olympiad in 2034, rather than in 2030.

The decision to present Salt Lake City as a candidate for a “focused dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee was expected. Still, it’s a major milestone for the bid, said city bid committee chair Fraser Bullock.

Salt Lake City, scene of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is seen as the most ready and flexible city to host the 2030 or 2034 Games.

The candidacy process for 2030 remains to be clarified: Canada and Japan have withdrawn from the race, but Sweden, Switzerland and France have recently discussed a possible candidacy with the IOC.

The 2034 Games would be less of a logistical and commercial challenge for Salt Lake City and the USOPC because 2030 would only arrive two years after Los Angeles hosts the Summer Games.

The 2030 host was initially expected to be chosen next month, at an annual IOC meeting in Mumbai, but the choice is instead expected to be announced next summer, shortly before the Paris Olympics.