These days mark the 41st anniversary since Sarajevo organized the 14th Winter Olympic Games “Sarajevo 1984”. I hadn’t written anything earlier on this anniversary, waiting to see if Sarajevo would organize any event in memory of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Nothing! Nada! Not even a children’s skating competition at the “Safet Zajko” ice rink in the center. Not even that.
Media Marketing commissioned research from IPSOS, the most prominent regional agency for public opinion and market research, to reveal how the citizens of Sarajevo remember the Winter Olympic Games held in 1984 in our city, what young people know about the Games, and what citizens think about a potential new bid from Sarajevo.
Among the survey participants, 46.1% were men and 53.9% were women, aged between 18 and 60+ years. Regarding education, the majority had completed higher education (college, university degree, master’s, or doctorate) (49%), followed by secondary education (44.9%). Most of them live in urban areas (85.6%), and are either employed (56.4%), unemployed (20.8%), or pensioners (22.7%).
Half of the surveyed citizens of Sarajevo Canton remember the Winter Olympic Games. Those who do are over 45 years old. They recall the Games for the heavy snowfall that occurred the day before the event and for the fact that Sarajevo was then the center of the world.
- Members of the 18–45 age group do not remember the event, but they mention that they have heard that Sarajevo was the center of the world at that time, that there was heavy snowfall, and that the Games were phenomenally organized.
- More than the average, the population aged 45–59 remembers the construction and improvement of the city, the sports facilities, etc. (as something positive).
- The vast majority of citizens do not have any negative memories or information regarding the Olympics.
- The Winter Olympic Games had a positive impact on the city’s image. Almost everyone indicates that Sarajevo should bid again to host the Winter Olympic Games.
- The main reason for a new bid is that Sarajevo would once again become the center of the world. When considering all responses, the development of the city and the country, as well as the renovation of mountain sporting facilities, are cited as reasons for the bid. Citizens over 60 years old significantly more often mention that Sarajevo should bid because it would create new jobs.
- According to half of the surveyed citizens of Sarajevo Canton, there is no reason why Sarajevo should not bid again as the host of the Winter Olympic Games.
- When it comes to financing this event (if Sarajevo were to host again), the largest number of citizens believe that the funding should come from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 30% of citizens think that it should be financed by the Council of Ministers, Sarajevo Canton, and the Government of Republika Srpska.
(Tomorrow: Why Sarajevo should, and why it should not, bid for a new edition of the Winter Olympic Games. Perhaps it could win the bid, but it definitely wouldn’t know how to organize it!)
