The 14th European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOF 2019) was officially closed in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH’s) city of East Sarajevo on Friday with the medal ceremony and extinguishing of Olympic flame.
During the medal ceremony, young sportsmen of Norway were the most successful participants of EYOF, winning 12 medals, out of which 6 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze. On the second place were athletes from Switzerland with 12 medals as well, 5 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, while third ones were sportsmen from France with 11 medals, 4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze.
After the medal ceremony, all attendees were greeted by one of the hosts, mayor of East Sarajevo, who congratulated to young athletes on the results they had achieved, wishing organizers a successful organization and hosting of the next EYOF.
The other host, mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka, said that the sport, youth and future were the key things of EYOF, and that this event was a project that linked people to great values.
At the end of the ceremony, the Chairman of Presidency of BiH Milorad Dodik, said that Bjelasnica and Jahorina mountains were the venues of competition for the best medals.
“We were all gathered here around the great thing, this would not happen without good cooperation between the two mayors and two cities along with support of all levels,”Dodik said, adding that this event was an opportunity to show that citizens of BiH are traditionally good hosts.
Dodik wished young athletes a safe and happy return to home, wishing them to bring the best impressions from BiH.
The ceremony of Olympic flame extinguishing in the capital of BiH was emotional for the thousands of visitors, and returned them 35 years back in 1984 when the 14th Winter Olympic Games were held in Sarajevo.
Organizers handed over the flag to representatives of Finnish city of Vuokatti, the next host of EYOF.
From Feb. 10-15, 2019, EYOF brought in Sarajevo and Eastern Sarajevo some 1,600 athletes aged 14-18 competing in eight sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating, snowboarding and curling.
(Source: Sarajevo Times, photo: FENA)
