Trebević

Trebević stands as the "city mountain," overlooking Sarajevo with a proximity that allowed the 1984 Winter Games to remain uniquely compact. Its story is one of dual identity: a beloved recreational escape linked to the heart of the city by a historic ropeway, and the site of the "Sarajevo Model"—a technically innovative, high-speed Olympic track carved into the coniferous forest.

Fast Facts

Location: 6 km (3.7 miles) from Sarajevo city center; 10 km (6.2 miles) from the Olympic Village.
Olympic Role: Venue for Bobsleigh and Luge competitions.
1984 Events: Two-man bobsled, four-man bobsled, men’s singles luge, women’s singles luge, and men’s doubles luge.
Track Type: Combined bobsleigh and luge run (the "Sarajevo Model").
Ropeway Opening: Originally opened May 3, 1959; rebuilt and reopened April 6, 2018.
Track Designer: Lead engineer Gorazd Bučar, in cooperation with the German "Deyle" company.
Track Length: 1,570 meters (5,150 feet) total; 1,266 meters (4,153 feet) for competition.
Vertical Drop: Start at 1,108.5 m; Finish at 982.6 m.
Turns: 13 curves (6 left, 7 right).
1984 Attendance: Over 10,000 spectators for major races.
Ropeway Speed (Modern): 5 meters per second (7-minute ride time).
Status Today: Ropeway fully operational; Olympic track remains in a ruined but structurally sound state, used for tourism and summer training.

Where Trebević Meets the City: The Venue Footprint

Trebević is Sarajevo’s most immediate mountain neighbor, with slopes that descend directly into the city's oldest neighborhoods. This "city mountain" reaches a peak of 1,629 meters (5,344 feet) and merges naturally with the Jahorina massif to the east. The Olympic venue zone was specifically concentrated on the northern hillsides, an area characterized by thick coniferous forests of spruce and fir.

The 1984 venue footprint was defined by three major components: the ropeway corridor, the Olympic track zone, and the leisure areas. The ropeway (or cable railway) provided the primary link, carrying visitors from the neighborhood of Bistrik at 583 meters above sea level to the Vidikovac station at 1,160 meters. The Olympic track itself was situated between 982 and 1,110 meters, integrated into a 51-hectare complex that included the Finish House, multiple start facilities, and a dedicated press center located above Curve 5.

Trebević Before 1984: The People’s Mountain

For centuries, Trebević has served as the back garden of Sarajevo. Parts of the city at its foot date back over 500 years, and the mountain has long been the favorite picnic ground for inhabitants seeking an "oasis of clean air." Before the high-tech concrete of the 1980s, the mountain was defined by its "ligure"—traditional Bosnian wooden sledges.

This local sledging culture was the spiritual precursor to the Olympic venue. Older generations recall the Trebević road being crowded every winter with people of all ages using these indigenous sleds or early skis. By the time of the Olympic bid, the mountain already hosted eight restaurants and three mountain lodges, firmly establishing it as a site of leisure rather than just a sporting wilderness.

The First Ropeway: Sarajevo’s 1959 Aerial Link

The arrival of the first Trebević cable car, often called the "funicular" in local jargon, transformed the mountain from a hiking destination into a city asset. Officially opened on May 3, 1959, the system was designed by František Šup from Czechoslovakia and built by a consortium of leading Yugoslav companies, including Energoinvest Sarajevo and Impola.

The 1959 system was a technical landmark for the region:

The Route: It connected the Bistrik neighborhood (583 m) to Vidikovac (1,160 m).
The Stats: A 2,100-meter (6,890-foot) length supported by eight lattice steel pillars.
The Experience: 50 cabins, each holding four passengers, made the trip in 12 minutes.

At the upper station, the Vidikovac restaurant offered what was widely considered the most beautiful panoramic view of Sarajevo. For decades, the ropeway allowed citizens to transition from the urban smog to untouched nature in less than a quarter of an hour, a luxury that became a central part of the city’s identity.

The "Sarajevo Model": Planning a Unified Track

When Sarajevo was awarded the Games in 1977, planners faced a significant hurdle: bobsleigh and luge typically required two separate, expensive facilities. Bobsleigh courses traditionally used wide-radius curves and long straightaways to accommodate heavy sleds, while luge tracks favored tight, curvy, and technical layouts.

To save costs and minimize the environmental footprint on the mountain, organizers developed the "Sarajevo Model." This innovative design created a single, combined track that could serve both disciplines. To ensure the course remained challenging for both sports, designers from the German Deyle company increased the gradient to 10.3%. Jan Steler, then head of the International Luge Federation, noted that this adjustment made it "the fastest track in the world."

The design also prioritized environmental protection. Working with technical delegates, planners adjusted the track's path specifically to save century-old spruce and fir trees. The resulting facility was praised by federations as a global standard for multi-functional sports architecture.

Building the Track: Concrete Innovation on the Slopes

Construction of the Olympic track began in June 1981 and was completed by September 30, 1982. The project was led by Sarajevo engineer Gorazd Bučar, a builder and academic whose name has occasionally been misreported in international media due to a 1984 broadcast mispronunciation.

The construction was a major engineering feat, utilizing several "firsts" for the sport:

Shotcrete Method: For the first time on a bobsleigh track, concrete was applied via "shotcrete"—spraying a slurry onto a steel-reinforced structure. This significantly reduced costs compared to traditional poured concrete.
Modular Design: The track featured a system of shiftable sections that allowed it to be divided into three autonomous parts. This meant three athletes or groups could train simultaneously, tripling the efficiency of the venue.
Youth Participation: The heavy labor of clearing the terrain was supported by Youth Labor Actions (Omladinske radne akcije), where thousands of students from Yugoslavia and abroad volunteered to excavate the site.
Spectator Access: Pedestrian trails and multiple bridge crossings were built along the length of the track, allowing the expected 20,000 spectators to get remarkably close to the high-speed action.

By the end of 1982, the track was ready for its final inspections, standing as a "modernist trademark" for the city's surrounding mountains.

Testing the Ice: Pre-Olympic Trials and Track Records

Before the world descended on Sarajevo in 1984, the Trebević track underwent rigorous testing to prove the "Sarajevo Model" worked. The first major test occurred from January 19 to February 20, 1983, when the European Bobsled Championships served as a dress rehearsal.

The trials immediately confirmed the designers' ambitions: it was an extremely fast track. During these events, international experts and athletes praised the technical demands and safety of the concrete trough. However, the speed was not without its risks; the 1983 competitions saw several minor overturns as pilots learned to navigate the specific physics of the new course. These sessions allowed organizers to fine-tune the ice preparation and timing systems, ensuring that everything from the marshal posts to the medical rescue plan was ready for the Olympic flame.

February 1984: Speed, Snow, and Ten Thousand Spectators

The Olympic competitions on Trebević officially began on February 9, 1984. Despite heavy snow and occasional blizzards that forced postponements on the higher alpine mountains, the Trebević track remained a hub of activity. The atmosphere was electric, with roughly 10,000 spectators—more than organizers had expected—lining the concrete walls to watch the "ice bullets" roar past.

The events were a masterclass in precision and a triumph for East Germany (GDR), whose athletes dominated several disciplines:

Luge: In the men’s singles, Italian Paul Hildgartner lived up to his favorite status, setting a new track record and taking gold. The GDR women swept the podium, led by Steffi Martin.
Two-man Bobsled: The GDR took both gold and silver, with the crew of Wolfgang Hoppe and Dietmar Schauerhammer reaching an average speed of 116 km/h (72 mph).
Four-man Bobsled: Wolfgang Hoppe’s crew secured another gold, with Hoppe being hailed as the "best pilot in the world" by his peers.
Doubles Luge: A dramatic finale saw the West German pair Stangassinger and Wembacher snatch gold from the Soviet crew by a fraction of a second in their second run.

Trebević also became a star-studded destination. British Princess Anne visited to watch the luge, while American singer John Denver caused a sensation by riding a four-man bobsled down the track with the US team. Even celebrated Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark visited the site, though when asked if he would ever compete on the ice track, he famously replied: "Not for a million bucks!"

Technical Profile: The 1984 Olympic Setup

By the close of the Games, the Trebević track was regarded as one of the most sophisticated in the world. Its technical configuration was a point of pride for Sarajevo’s engineers.

Total Length: 1,570 meters (5,150 feet) including stop ramps.
Competition Length: 1,266 meters (4,153 feet) for bobsleigh; 1,210 meters (3,970 feet) for luge.
Vertical Drop: 125.9 meters (413 feet).
Curves: 13 technical curves (Figures), with the steepest sections reaching a 15% gradient.
Refrigeration: An artificial cooling system using a network of pipes embedded in the concrete allowed for a consistent ice surface despite fluctuating temperatures.
The "Split" System: A unique mechanical undertaking allowed the track to be divided into three sections (376 m, 680 m, and 872 m) for simultaneous use by beginners, youth, or recreational sledders.
Capacity: Spectator standing zones designed for 20,000 people.
Support Buildings: Start houses for Bobsleigh and Luge, a Finish House, and a dedicated press center above Curve 5 equipped with 50 desks and telecommunication links.

The Frontline Years: Damage and Dereliction

The glory of the 1984 Games was short-lived. Just eight years after the closing ceremony, the mountain that symbolized Olympic unity was transformed into a primary battleground. During the Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996), Trebević became a strategic asset for Bosnian Serb forces due to its commanding view over the city.

The Olympic track, once a theater of sport, was repurposed for war. It was used as an offensive position and an infantry trench; holes were punched through the concrete curves to serve as firing positions for snipers and artillery. By the end of the conflict, the site was a "moonscape" of destruction. The refrigeration pipes were ripped out, the start houses lay in ruins, and the surrounding forest was littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance.

For nearly two decades after the war, the area held a reputation as a "no man's land." The ropeway stations were completely destroyed, leaving the mountain isolated from the citizens who once flocked there. While some Olympic venues like Zetra were rebuilt with international aid in the late 1990s, the bobsleigh track was left to the elements, its concrete trough becoming a canvas for graffiti and a symbol of the war's "post-apocalyptic" legacy.

Trebević Today: The 2018 Rebirth and the Graffiti Track

The revival of Trebević began not with grand budgets, but with the persistence of local enthusiasts. Former athletes and volunteers, led by the Bosnian Luge Federation, began cleaning the track by hand—removing decades of mud, debris, and even trees that had grown through the concrete.

The most significant turning point arrived on April 6, 2018, when the Trebević cable car was officially reopened. Funded largely by a donation from Edmond Offermann—who had first pledged his support in 2008—and his wife Maja, the new ropeway restored the 1959 link between the city and the mountain.

The mountain has now reclaimed its title as the city’s favorite "oasis":

The Modern Ropeway: The system features 33 cabins (five in the colors of the Olympic rings) and carries 1,200 people per hour. The ride from Bistrik to Vidikovac now takes just seven minutes and 15 seconds.
A Multi-Use Track: While winter racing has not yet returned, the track remains structurally sound. It is now a world-famous destination for "street luge," downhill mountain biking, and graffiti tourists.
International Training: Despite the lack of ice, the track is used for summer training by luge teams from across Europe, including Slovakia, Poland, and Sweden.

How to Visit Trebević

Today, Trebević is more accessible than at any point since 1984. The primary gateway is the Trebević Cable Car departure station in the Bistrik neighborhood, located just across the Miljacka River from the City Hall (Vijećnica). The seven-minute ascent provides a bird’s-eye view of the city’s transition from Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture to the dense Olympic-era settlements.

The Bobsleigh Educational Trail

Once at the Vidikovac upper station, visitors are encouraged to follow the Bobsleigh Educational Trail. This initiative has transformed the ruined concrete trough into a "living museum." As you walk down the 1,570-meter track, dedicated information boards and markers explain the technical significance of the curves, the 1984 competition highlights, and the track’s wartime history.

A Volunteer Legacy

The accessibility of the track today is largely due to the dedication of both local and international volunteers. Notable efforts, such as those by enthusiasts from Czechia and local sports federations, involved clearing years of overgrowth and debris to reclaim the concrete structure from the forest. Their work has ensured that the "Sarajevo Model" remains a visible and walkable landmark rather than a lost ruin.