Kosevo is a neighborhood in the municipality of Centar in central Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located between the older parts of the city under Stari Grad and the newer more modern parts of the city under the municipalities Novo Sarajevo.
The Olympic Stadium Koševo and Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic Hall, at which the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics were held, are part of huge sport complex, which includes Faculty of Sport and Physical Culture and university’s swimming pool as well, located in Koševo neighborhood.
Also, city’s zoo-park Pionirska dolina (Pioneer’s Valley), Groblje Lav (Lion Cemetery), and city’s maternity and children’s hospital are located within boundaries of the neighborhood.
Many famous Sarajevans are from this neighborhood, such as members of the rock band Zabranjeno Pušenje, and others.
Koševo Stadium, a monumental sports facility in Koševo neighborhood was built in 1948 and designed by Anatoly Kiryakov. Koševo Stadium is where the 14th Olympic Games were officially opened on 8 February 1984. The stadium was badly damaged during the war between 1992 and 1995, but was completely rebuilt after the war. The capacity of the stadium is 37,500 seats and it is the largest stadium in the country. It is the home stadium of FK Sarajevo (FC Sarajevo), one of two local premier league clubs. A derby match between local clubs Sarajevo and Željezničar is always a special event in the life of the city. Koševo stadium is named Asim Ferhatović Hase, in recognition of one of the best BiH athlets.
In 1982 a large sports hall Zetra was completed within the Koševo sports complex. It was conceptualized by Lidumil Alifakić and Dušan Đapo. During the XIV Olympic Games competitions in figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey were held in Zetra and surrounding sports facilities.
In addition, Zetra was the venue for the closing ceremony of “the best organized Winter Olympic Games to date”, Sarajevo 84. At the beginning of the Aggression on BiH, after a particularly heavy shelling, Zetra was burned down to the ground. After the war, it was fully restored by the International Olympic Committee and now it is once again, one of the most important centers of sporting, entertainment and cultural events in the city.
In addition to the multipurpose hall, the sports complex includes a speed-skating track, tennis courts and a bowling alley, Destination Sarajevo reports.
Not far from Zetra, in the village of Jezero (The Lake), set in beautiful natural surroundings is Pionirska dolina (Pioneer’s Valley), which includes a zoo containing several dozen of various wild animals as well as the amusement park for children.
(Photo: Avaz)
