sarajevo olympics
Soon after being in the spotlight and staging the first Winter Olympic Games in a socialist state, Yugoslavia’s collapse ignited a destructive war. The proposed future of the Olympic venues was lost for good. Let me invite you to explore the whole story of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympic Games and see their former glory.
These white Olympiads may have been the best.
There is no doubt that Sarajevo will put its best foot forward for the Games. The problem is whether Sarajevo’s best foot will be good enough.
Sarajevo will be the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics, if there is an Olympics, and a Yugoslavia, and 1984.
The only thing anyone knows about Sarajevo is that Franz Ferdinand was killed there in 1914 and has been a code word for catastrophe ever since.
It is said that these Games were the best ever. I hope that the next Games in Tito’s Yugoslavia, when we get them again, will be even better.
The Sarajevo games have been a wonderful success, I am convinced they will remain forever in our hearts and memories.
The games have, beyond question, been the best organized and most smoothly run I have seen in a quarter-century.
With a great deal of effort, the organizers succeeded in staging, from nothing, an event of world importance.
The Yugoslavs’ efforts in order to secure the smooth management of the competitions have, effectively, been crowned with success, in spite of unfavorable weather conditions.
A resounding success with regard to organization, technical detail, the excitement of the competitions, the winning personalities and the popular enthusiasm which accompanied the events.
We guarantee that the next Games in Tito's Yugoslavia, when they come here, will be even better!
In Sarajevo, the Olympics seemed to live up to their ideals. The Games there really were fairly free of petty politics, and they really did seem to enhance visions of brotherhood.
Young men and women, a beautifully uniformed polyglot, rushed to help their guests at all times, to greet them as if every one of them were a Santa Claus. Their warmth melted even the cold of the mountains...
A super Olympics was organized at those beautiful venues. Around 6000 journalists had excellent work conditions. You did not hear any complaints from the Olympic Village. These Games are among the best ever.
During the Games, the whole world came to know and love you. You wonderful people worked together for four years, showing your talent, creativity, self-sacrifice and respect... You set an example to the world of peaceful companionship. Such a wonderful way to spread peace.
The Americans finally learned a bit of history. They will remember Sarajevo forever!... Our American friends were impressed as much as we were with the organization of the Games and the beauty of our country and people. It could not have been any better!
I feel that they are definitely without a doubt, the most modern sports facilities in Europe... I was especially impressed that all the facilities for the Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo were built for permanent use and that, after the Games, the citizens of Sarajevo and its quests from Yugoslavia and abroad will be able to use them.
The most beautiful image I take from Sarajevo is of these people. I have never seen so much warmth, friendliness among young people. All the chance encounters and conversations in this city left an incredible impression of intimacy on me... Sarajevo is a paradise for young people.
The organization is really good. And the people are kind and helpful... all in all, it was excellent.
It was a great triumph for sport, the Olympic ideal, and peace. It was also a lesson that taught us that brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation are possible to achieve among all the countries of the world. Sarajevo has written magnificent pages in our already long History in golden letters.
We were told, not out of courtesy, by many colleagues and other acquaintances from abroad, that the Games in Sarajevo were among the most pleasant they have ever been to.
As a professional journalist, I too looked for some shortcomings. A professional deformation... In Sarajevo, there really were none. Everything functioned like a precise Swiss watch.
A miracle happened in Sarajevo... In all our cities, many things are creaking, and now suddenly in Sarajevo, everything is functioning perfectly. City transport, cleanliness, healthcare, hospitality services, police, controls, inspectors - all phenomenal.
Today, all of that has been accomplished, and it demands the admiration of all who had a part in the organization. For all Finnish participants of the Games... it will always be a very pleasant memory, as one of the best games ever.
It was the most beautiful end to the most beautiful games.
Never better, never more beautiful! ... a true triumph of friendship, dialogue, and sporting chivalry.
Here we are, preparing to return to our homeland. We are not bringing back any medals. But we return richer for an extraordinary Olympic experience. It was beautiful here. We take our hats off to the host.
Sarajevo deserved the chance to host the 14th Winter Olympic Games... contrary to many predictions, the city, which is fascinating to the whole world, has shown much, much more than the often-mentioned historical memories.
An example of such an organization of the games we too must keep in mind in the future.
The atmosphere in Sarajevo exudes goodwill, friendship, everything that we call the true Olympic spirit.
My impression, and I think it is the opinion of the other IOC members, is that these games are the best so far, and I expect this to be officially confirmed in the history of sports and the Olympics.
One more battle for a happier, richer, and more humane city has been won. That battle had thousands of known and unknown heroes. It was won by people not only from Sarajevo but from Yugoslavia and from all meridians of the world.
If anyone deserves the gold medal, it is the people of Sarajevo.