40th Anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games “Sarajevo 1984
“The Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the host City of Sarajevo marked the 40th Anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games “Sarajevo 1984”.
The 40th Anniversary was held in a glamorous way confirming that the Olympic flame never left Sarajevo and it burns in the hearts of Bosnian and Herzegovinian as well as people from the Region.
Numerous competitions, exhibitions, tv shows, sport and cultural activities have been held around the City of Sarajevo, the Olympic mountains, and the Olympic Museum.
The main event has been held in the National Theatre. Among many speakers such as the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina – H.E. Zeljko Komsic, the Mayor of Sarajevo – Benjamina Karic, Senior Adviser of the IOC President – Pere Miro, Secretary General of the EOC – Raffaele Pagnozzi, the President of the NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina Izet Rado addressed the audience:
“The Olympic flame, despite all the temptations, has faithfully illuminated Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina for 40 years, but also the strong vision of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is powered by the source of the thought of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin. Citius, Altius, Fortius, … Faster, higher, stronger as a message to humanity, that the Olympic Flame follows its course through the ages for the benefit of humanity ever more fiery, brave and pure”.
IOC President Thomas Bach in his emotional video message sent his sincere congratulations to the NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized that only by joining the hands in partnership that we can truly live our new Olympic moto faster, higher stronger, together.
Along with the representatives from the IOC and the EOC, the Presidents and Secretaries General from the NOCs of former Yugoslavia have been present demonstrating the Olympic values excellence, friendship and respect.
Many athlete superstars from 1984 came to Sarajevo on this occasion participating the press conferences and TV shows: Katarina Witt, Jure Franko, Bojan Križaj, Sanda Dubravčić, Perrine Pelen, Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean who performed their exceptional ice dance Bolero in one of the many sport competitions that the citizens of Sarajevo could enjoy in the festive days.
The idea of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo hosting the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in the future has been mentioned several times during the Anniversary. This idea will be an excellent occasion to renovate the Olympic venues such as the bobsleigh track and ski jumps with the hope that our citizens will be given another chance to feel the true Olympic Spirit.”
