In 1984, Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics. Just a decade later, the region was torn apart by a bitter years-long conflict, leading to widespread death and suffering. One not-so-familiar effect of this war was the toll it took on the Olympic infrastructure which had been built not that long ago. Today, these structures stand as a visual reminder of how quickly things can change.
This is the judges stand at the 1984 Olympic Ski Jump venue.
This is the crumbling medal podium…
The abandoned ski jump at Mount Igman stands overgrown.
The steps leading to the top of the ski-jump platform are nearly all gone…
This is the hotel where the 1984 Olympians stayed…
The bobsled track has been overgrown…
Graffiti covers the inside walls of the track…
These are the remains of Zetra Ice rink, where the speed skating competition was held.
Weeds grow over the walls of Koševo Stadium.
This is Vucko, the official mascot of the 1984 games…
The Olympic rings on the old tower…
The view from the top of the ski jump…
While these photos offer a stunning glimpse of the decayed grounds from the 1984 Winter Olympics, it’s important to also remember how devastating the 1990s war was for the region. The Siege of Sarajevo was the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. The sports complex built for the 1984 Winter Olympics was utilized as a graveyard due to high casualties. The story of the 1984 Olympics doesn’t have the happiest ending, but it’s definitely a story worth knowing.
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