Thirty years ago, the Winter Olympics were held in Sarajevo. In the 1990’s, the region was in turmoil due to a brutal multi-year war. The conflict wreaked havoc on the the Olympic infrastructure built just a decade before. While these structures look abandoned today, they stand as a visual reminder of how quickly the world can change.
Take a look at these photos and imagine how they were the focus of 100 million people in 1984…
The judges’ stand at the 1984 Olympic ski jump venue…
The medal podium at the ski jump venue…
The abandoned ski jump at Mount Igman…
The steps leading to the top of the ski-jump platform are all but gone…
The stands at the ski-jump venue…
The hotel where the 1984 Olympians stayed…
The bobsled track overrun with foliage…
The broken down bobsled tack at Mount Trebevic…
Graffiti now covers the inside walls of the track…
A dog walks pas the Kosovo Stadium where the opening ceremonies were held…
Weeds grow over the walls of the Kosovo Stadium…
The Zetra Hall where figure skating was held…
The remains of Zetra Hall…
Graffiti on Zetra Hall…
Vucko, the official mascot of the 1984 Olympics…
A broken window outside the ski jump…
The ski jump itself…
The bottom of the ski jump…
The top of the ski jump…
The Olympic rings on a tower above the figure skating venue…
The logo for the ’84 Olympics in central Sarajevo…
These photos are evidence of the devastation caused by the turmoil of the 1990’s. The sports complex built for the 1984 Winter Olympics was used as a graveyard during the war. A sad ending to a story set on the world’s stage.
