The 1984 Winter Olympic Games illuminated the world stage in a brief moment of global unity - a ray of light that was later overshadowed by the Bosnian War. In Sarajevo, Eastern and Western powers came together, temporarily setting aside their political differences. Impressive new sports venues were erected to proudly represent Yugoslavia - concrete monuments that nowadays lie dormant.
It might be difficult to envision now in its state of complete desolation, but this brutalist structure was the Olympic Village. With the harsh contours, its design matches the mountainous landscape perfectly. Today, Hotel Igman stands as a memorial of destruction and survival. During the siege of Sarajevo in the Bosnian War, the area became a frontline. Serbs took over the Olympic sites outside the city gates and bombarded Sarajevo with artillery - a brutal attack that lasted for several years. Amid these battles, the hotel was engulfed in flames and burned down.
The transformation of these sporting venues, which once stood for peace and stability, into the scene of cruel war is a testament to the pervasive nature of conflict. The legacy of the 1984 Winter Olympics seems shattered and punctuated by bullet holes. These war-torn sites bear the enduring scars of a clash that continues to divide the Balkans to this day.
Explore the ruins in this documentary on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0qht68iixHk
