Sarajevo is officially bidding to host the 2010 Winter Olymic Games. The city last hosted an Olympic Games in 1984.
The national Olympic Committee brushed aside concerns about the political and economic situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, saying that the Olympics were the best chance of boosting economic recovery and encouraging reunification of the ethnically-divided country. All former Olympic hosts will be called upon to support and financially assist Sarajevo’s candidacy.
Although the international community supported the idea of Sarajevo’s candidacy, no funds have yet been pledged.
Almost all of the facilites used for the 1984 Games were destroyed during that war that claimed over 200,000 lives and caused billions of dollars of damage.
Also Poland’s Zakopane resort and Poprad in neighbouring Slovakia are submitting a joint bid to host the 2010 Games.
Stanislaw Stefan Pszcyzyk, president of the Polish Olympic Committee said, “Zakopane will definitely put itself forward as a candidate” but the two resorts will cooperate to win the right to organize the 2010 Games.
A joint working group has been formed and should prepare a preliminary proposal by April. The two resorts had separate bids for the 2006 Winter Games but were beaten by Turin.
The IOC is to decide which candidate cities will be accepted by the middle of next year, and the host city is expected to be chosen in 2003.
