One of the most important basketball players on the European scene, Dino Rađa, was a guest today at the Sarajevo Olympic Week festival, where he talked to young people as part of the “Olympic stories with…” program. During the conversation, Rađa spoke about his experiences and career, during which he won two silver Olympic medals, with the Yugoslav national team at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988, and with the Croatian national team at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, leaving a strong mark on both the national and club level of European basketball. At the beginning of the conversation, the mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, on behalf of the organizers, presented the award for life’s work and contribution to the development of Olympism.
“My motivation has always been to be the best. In three years in Rome and four years in Boston, I never went outside. If you want to be serious in any job, you have to dedicate yourself to it, and if you’re still doing a job you love, then it’s a miracle,” Radja told the youth.
Sarajevo Olympic Week, a ten-day festival dedicated to the promotion of sports, culture and Olympic values, takes place until February 15 at several locations in Sarajevo and Bjelašnica. Inspired by Sarajevo’s rich Olympic heritage, the festival connects sports, education and culture through contemporary programming, with a special focus on the young generation. The central part of the festival is the series of talks “Olympic stories with…”, in which Olympic medalists and top athletes share their life and sports experiences with young people and the general public and talk about the path to top results, but also about the universal values that sport carries, work, discipline, perseverance, team spirit and dedication.
“Work is 90 percent, and talent is 10 percent. I would always take a teammate who is hard-working and untalented, rather than a teammate who is talented and not hard-working. Because from this first one I always know what I will get,” said Radja, pointing out to the young people the importance of dedication and work.
Speaking about today’s basketball, Rađa pointed out that things have changed drastically and that he, as a former basketball player, does not like the new reality. “Today’s NBA has turned into an All Star game. Today, it is much more entertainment. Before, defenses played much more aggressively and firmly. As soon as the score is 150:140, it is more of an exhibition than a competitive game,” said Rađa, adding that today you can see more basketball in Europe than in the NBA.
All information about the program activities of Sarajevo Olympic Week is available on the official Instagram account of Sarajevo Olympic Week.
Sarajevo Olympic Week 2026 is realized with the support of the City of Sarajevo, the Tourist Board of Sarajevo Canton, the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Municipality of Centar, the Municipality of Stari Grad, the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, international diplomatic partners, as well as numerous domestic and international organizations and sponsors who recognize the importance of preserving and developing Sarajevo’s Olympic heritage.
