On this day, while the mountains around Sarajevo were covered in snow, the world looked towards the city that had become the epicenter of winter sports when the 14th Winter Olympics opened at the packed Koševo Stadium, which will forever mark the city and its history.
These were the first Olympic Games in a socialist country and the first during the term of the late Juan Antonio Samaranch (who died in 2010 in Barcelona), a great friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The opening of the Games was spectacular: the ceremony was “a true symphony of colors, lights and emotions”, as it was later assessed. The hosts showed maximum hospitality and creativity, and the atmosphere itself was described as “a city that for a moment became the center of the world, bringing together all athletes and nations”.
The New York Times described the event as a “grandiose manifestation” with thousands of journalists, a multitude of delegations, and the city shining in Olympic attire.
During the ceremony, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, the Olympic flame was lit as a symbol of strength, hope and friendship between nations. The city of Sarajevo shone proudly as the host of 49 countries, opening an event that was not only a sports event but a global festival of unity and togetherness.
The games lasted until February 19, and the town and the mountains around it from Jahorina to Trebević became an arena for competitions: from fast downhill skiers to elegant bobsleigh and luge rides.
Today, more than four decades later, remembering February 8, 1984 awakens pride, nostalgia and memories of the moments when a small town in the heart of the Balkans was at the center of the Olympic world. It was an occasion when Sarajevo shone, not only through sports fields and the Olympic torch, but through the spirit of gathering.
Venues in the city: Koševo Stadium – opening ceremony, Zetra Ice Hall – figure skating, ice hockey, closing ceremony, Zetra Ice Rink – speed skating, Skenderija – ice hockey.
Venues in the mountains: Bjelašnica – men’s alpine skiing, Jahorina – women’s alpine skiing, Igman, Veliko Polje – cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, biathlon, Trebević – bobsleigh, luge.
Of course, the Sarajevo Olympics then became the driving force behind the development of winter sports and continental tourism in the region.
The most successful, almost according to tradition, were athletes from the USSR with 25 medals (6 gold, 10 silver, 9 bronze) and East Germany with one less, but also more gold medals won (9, 9, 6).
The Finns were also excellent, but for all of us the most important event was the men’s giant slalom on February 14th. On that day, the former Yugoslavia won one medal.
Jure Franko, a former Slovenian skier and member of the Yugoslav national team in alpine skiing, won a silver medal in the giant slalom.
