In less than 40 days Bosnia will host the youth from 46 countries of the world who will compete in eight disciplines of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), the largest sports event for young athletes.

The preparations are over and organisers said they hoped the event will meet all expectations.

“That invisible part of work is done and I believe we are ready for that 9th of February. All we have to do is to prepare the opening and the closing ceremonies in the best possible way, because in a way that’s the image of every Olympic games event,” said Nenad Vukovic, Mayor of Istocno Sarajevo (East Sarajevo).

The cities of Sarajevo and Istocno Sarajevo are organising the youth sports festival together. The competitions in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating, curling, and snowboarding will take place on Olympic mountains that hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1984.

“I think Sarajevans will be proud, especially of the opening ceremony, which will take place in Kosevo (neighbourhood), that’s going to be one unforgettable moment,” Sarajevo Mayor Abdulah Skaka said.

The medal award ceremony and the flag handover to the next organiser will be held at the Slavija stadium of Istocno Sarajevo.

Olympic village will be situated in Ilidza neighbourhood as it meets the criteria of an isolated and fenced area, where the athletes can prepare for and rest after their competitions.

Significant sums of money were invested in the adaptation of old and construction of new sports venues for this year’s festival, Nenad Vukovic said.

This investment, Vukovic added, will remain worthy EYOF’s legacy.

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