Ice piers and snow melt on Sarajevo Square in east Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karic (courtesy of interviewee)
President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Olympic Committee, Marjan Kwešić (photo courtesy of the interviewee)
Veteran bosnia and Herzegovina sports journalist Nikola Bilic (courtesy of interviewee)
International Online Report (reporters Sanel Kayan and Yu Xi): For many Chinese, mentioning "Sarajevo" will remind you of "Walter". But few people know that Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics. After 38 years, people there still have a special affection for this event. Today, when the Beijing Winter Olympics attract the world's attention, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo have paid special attention to Beijing.
"It was amazing!" Azra Hodzic, a citizen of Sarajevo, told reporters with a smile, "In the difficult time of the global epidemic, being able to organize such a tournament is a great success in itself. China has always exceeded expectations. This is China! I am in Sarajevo, once the site of the Winter Olympics, to send greetings and blessings to China! ”
Mirza Aliki, another Sarajevo resident, said: "I followed the Beijing Winter Olympics and enjoyed it very much. Everyone can find their own point of interest from it. I was also an athlete and was involved in the preparations for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, so I knew what a great sporting achievement this event was. Beijing is a great host and all that I saw was very, very good. ”
Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Carrić said a few days ago: "Now, Sarajevo and Beijing have the glorious status of hosts of the Winter Olympics, and because of the Winter Olympics, Sarajevo and Beijing have closer friendly relations." ”
With the help of the Chinese Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the square in East Sarajevo has recently been decorated with traditional Chinese lanterns, as well as ice piers and snow melting for the Winter Olympic mascot.
The President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Olympic Committee, Marijan Kwesic, also evoked fond memories of the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. "A year before the opening of the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo had all the necessary venues and facilities," he said. The scale of the Beijing Winter Olympics is certainly much larger than the Sarajevo Winter Olympics 38 years ago, and due to the level of scientific and technological development and the application of scientific and technological means today, the level of hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games is very high, so that those who did not participate in the Winter Olympics can also enjoy the event through television broadcasting and feel its magnificence. ”
Nikola Bilic is the most senior member of the Association of Sports Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that year he witnessed Sarajevo being declared the venue for the 14th Winter Olympics. Recalling the Sarajevo Winter Olympics to reporters, he said: "At the closing ceremony, then IOC President Samaranch said that Sarajevo was the best host in history up to that time, 'Dear Sarajevo, goodbye!'" Samaranch said finally. The 14th Winter Olympics set a record number of participants at the time, with 49 Olympic delegations participating, 229 medals, 2691 athletes and coaches, 7825 journalists, and 640,000 tickets sold. The little wolf, the mascot of the Winter Olympics at that time, is now 38 years old, and it is also one of the most beloved mascots in the history of the Winter Olympics... All of this has made the citizens of Sarajevo, and indeed the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, pay special attention to the Winter Olympics in China with special feelings. And we've also witnessed an event that is extremely professional in every detail. ”
It is worth mentioning that Sarajevo is preparing to bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics with Barcelona, Spain, and while in Beijing, the BiH Olympic Committee and the Spanish Olympic Committee also held talks on this issue. After Beijing became the world's first city of the Double Olympic Games, Sarajevo, which Chinese familiar with "defended by Walter", will strive to become the "City of the Double Olympics".