On 13 November 2024, the Olympic Center Jahorina became a member of the Council of the Association of Olympic Cities, granting this mountain in the Republic of Srpska one of the most significant recognitions on the international sports and tourism scene.
Jahorina’s entry into the circle of Olympic cities reaffirms its historical importance and modern development as one of the most prominent winter destinations in Southeast Europe. This recognition comes forty years after the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games, where Jahorina served as one of the main competition venues.
Joining the Council of the Association of Olympic Cities – A Recognition of Olympic Heritage
The Council of the Association of Olympic Cities brings together cities and Olympic centers that have hosted the Summer or Winter Olympic Games, with the mission of preserving Olympic heritage, improving sports infrastructure, and fostering sustainable tourism development.
Jahorina’s membership in this organization acknowledges its long tradition of sportsmanship, as well as the major investments made in recent years in modernizing infrastructure, digitalization, and expanding tourism capacities.
The Olympic Center, along with representatives of the City of Istočno Sarajevo and the City of Sarajevo, jointly represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the prestigious “Smart Cities & Sport” summit held in Lausanne, the cradle of the Olympic movement. At this international gathering, Jahorina was recognized as an example of a successful blend of Olympic history and contemporary tourism development.
Jahorina – A Fusion of Tradition and Modern Progress
Known as the Olympic mountain, Jahorina was one of the key venues of the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games, hosting the world’s best alpine skiers. Today, four decades later, the mountain once again stands among the most recognizable winter destinations in Southeast Europe.
In recent years, the Olympic Center Jahorina has significantly improved its infrastructure: new ski lifts and gondolas have been built, slopes expanded, and state-of-the-art artificial snowmaking systems and digital technologies for ski-center management introduced. These investments boost Jahorina’s competitiveness in the European winter tourism market and attract an increasing number of domestic and international visitors.
According to the Olympic Center, the 2023/2024 season was one of the most successful ever, with a record number of tourists from the region as well as from countries such as Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Greece, and Poland.
Economic Importance for the Republika Srpska
Jahorina’s membership in the Council of the Association of Olympic Cities is not only symbolic but also a strategic opportunity for attracting new investments, international projects, and promoting the country’s tourism offerings.
This status enables access to a network of Olympic destinations, joint training programs, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of sustainable sports tourism — all contributing to the economic growth of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jahorina’s representatives announced that they will use this membership to further promote the mountain as a destination for sports, recreation, and year-round tourism, while strengthening cooperation with partners from the region and the world.
Jahorina – A Symbol of Olympic Spirit and Tourism’s Future
The recognition awarded to Jahorina confirms that this mountain is not merely a reminder of Olympic history but a vibrant center of sports, tourism, and innovation.
With its natural beauty, modern infrastructure, improved accessibility, and diverse accommodation and activity offerings, Jahorina has established itself as one of the key tourism destinations in the region.
In the coming period, new investments are planned in eco-tourism, sports camps, conference tourism, and digital solutions that will enhance sustainability and improve the user experience.
Jahorina’s entry into the Council of the Association of Olympic Cities marks a significant historical moment for the mountain and for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. This step confirms Jahorina’s status as a regional leader in sports and winter tourism, while its Olympic heritage gains renewed global relevance.
This recognition further reinforces the strategic development path of Jahorina as a center of sports, recreation, and year-round tourism, contributing to the economic development of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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