The capital of Bosnia Hercegovina already hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984
The agreement reaffirms the cooperation between the Catalan and Sarajevite governments already agreed in 2008
The Governments of Catalonia and the canton of Sarajevo today agreed on a cooperation plan that includes the possibility of the Bosnian capital hosting part of the competitions of the 2030 Pyrenees Winter Olympic Games if the application goes ahead.
The agreement, which reaffirms the cooperation already agreed in 2008, was signed today in Sarajevo by the Catalan Minister for Foreign Action, Victória Alsina, and by the canton’s prime minister, Edin Forto.
“Catalonia and Sarajevo have been united in the past and will be in the future, especially in relation to the Olympic Games. We see Sarajevo as a living city in its historical, cultural and political sense and we consider it a great capital of Europe”, Alsina said, according to the Sarajevo canton government statement.
He also stated that the agreement confirms the friendship and solidarity between the two regions, dating back to the 1992 siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian civil war (1992-1995).
Alsina announced the cooperation in different sectors, such as health, culture and sports.
“We will continue working on the Olympic projects and on other projects and aspects of cooperation in sport, especially in the promotion and professionalization of women’s football,” he said.
“We are one step closer to Barcelona’s Olympic bid, which would include Sarajevo,” said Forto.
Representatives of the Bosnia-Herzegovina and Spanish Olympic Committees have met several times in recent years to discuss a joint organization of the Games.
Barcelona hosted the Summer Games in 1992 and Sarajevo the Winter Games in 1984.