Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi represented the European Olympic Committees (EOC) during celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo 1984.
In 1984, more than 1200 athletes travelled to Sarajevo, then part of Yugoslavia, to compete in the 14th edition of the Winter Games, where European National Olympic Committees (NOC) enjoyed great success on the slopes and on the rinks.
Sarajevo was also the host for the successful Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in 2019 as Europe’s best young athletes competed in eight sports across six days of competition.
The three-day trip included a visit to the Olympic Museum alongside athletes who competed in Sarajevo, as well as receptions with local government officials and tours of the venues used in 1984. Secretary General Pagnozzi also met with Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić.
The National Theatre hosted a Gala Academy on the Thursday night, where Secretary General Pagnozzi handed out commemorative plaques to Mayor Karić, the Secretary General of Sarajevo 84, Mr. Ahmed Karabegović and to Bosnia and Herzegovina NOC President Izet Rado. Afterwards, he remarked on the success of the 1984 Winter Games in bringing the world together.
Pagnozzi said: “We must never let politics or governments deny athletes their right to compete, or to disrupt peaceful sporting competition and in 1984 in Sarajevo that was not the case.
“Sarajevo 1984 sent a powerful message to the world, and it was a shining example of Olympism in action. In this time of heightened conflict in Europe and further afield, that is a message which we must remember.
“Of course, the sporting action was the real highlight. It was exciting to watch and those athletes who competed, media who attended and fans who spectated all look back with happy memories.
“The EOC were also warmly welcomed to Sarajevo five years ago, when the Bosnia and Herzegovina NOC hosted a memorable EYOF.
“It has been an honour to represent the EOC over the past three days, to reflect on such a successful Winter Games and to present the commemorative plaques at the National Theatre.”
