Cleaner air and urban improvement

New hotels were built to cope with the increase in the number of tourists, who in turn brought much-needed hard currency with them. Jobs were created as a result, albeit on a largely short-term basis.

At a time of severe public spending cuts across former Yugoslavia, USD 150 million was invested in the city’s underdeveloped infrastructure by the city and the federal government. The façades of city-centre buildings were renovated and apartments built in their thousands for Sarajevans, with new residential areas such as Mojmilo – the site of the Olympic Village – and Dobrinja appearing. Improvements were also made to the city’s public transport system and new ring roads were built to keep traffic out of the heavily polluted city, while existing ones were upgraded. Sarajevo Airport also underwent refurbishment, and major radio and television facilities were built.

Having begun in 1962, the Project for the Protection of Sarajevo’s Human Environment was completed just in time for the Games, and brought about long-awaited improvements in the city’s air quality, and its sewage and water supply systems. The project transformed Sarajevo, which switched from coal and kerosene to gas heating to combat air pollution. It also involved the creation of a 26km underground wastewater collection system that greatly improved the quality of Sarajevo’s watercourses and remains operational today.

Various sports facilities were also built for the Olympic Winter Games. These included the multi-purpose Zetra Olympic Hall, the Malo Polje Ski Jump Centre and the bobsleigh and luge track on Mount Trebevic. Meanwhile, a second main hall was added to the existing Skenderija complex.