The Olympic Museum is one of the most representative segments of the Olympic Committee of BiH, which participates in the development and affirmation of Olympic values and the Olympic spirit. It was established by a decision of the Organizing Committee of the XIV Winter Olympic Games with the desire to permanently preserve the memory of the organization and realization of this unforgettable Olympic event.
The Olympic Museum building, also known as "Mandića Vila," was built for Sarajevo lawyer Nikola Mandić in 1903, based on the design of Karl Paržik. It once housed the American Consulate, and more recently, the City Committee of the League of Communists of Sarajevo.
In addition to significant documents related to the organization, preparation, and execution of the XIV Winter Olympic Games, the Olympic Museum's collection also features a unique numismatic collection from the Hasagić family, consisting of 250 donated gold coins of exceptional value. Also on display are the authentic skis of silver Olympic medalist Jure Franko, as well as the coat of IOC President J.A. Samaranch, which he wore during the Games.
In addition to memories of 1984 and the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, the Olympic Museum also houses a section of exhibits from the first major multi-sport event in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the Olympics, the "EYOF 2019 Sarajevo & East Sarajevo". Among other things, visitors can see the torch that lit the flame at the opening ceremony, as well as the competitive skis of Esma Alić, which she used to compete at EYOF 2019 and achieve the best result for the Bosnian and Herzegovinian team.
After the war, the exhibits were temporarily displayed in the Olympic Hall Zetra, where they were kept until the reopening of the Olympic Museum in Sarajevo. In the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, and representatives of the International Olympic Committee, the museum was officially opened on October 8, 2020. The exhibited items cover the XIV Winter Olympic Games '84 and the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) 2019, representing an important part of Sarajevo's sports and cultural heritage.
Sarajevo was chosen to host the XIV Winter Olympic Games on May 18, 1978, during the 80th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Athens. The opposing candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan, and Gothenburg, Sweden. After two rounds of voting, Sarajevo won the organization of the 1984 Winter Olympics by a majority of votes.
The Latin motto Citius Altius Fortius – Faster, Higher, Stronger – is the most famous Olympic motto. It was first introduced at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920, and the creator of the motto was de Coubertin's supporter, the Dominican monk Henri Didon, who used these very words to begin his physical education classes.
