They were XIV Olympic Winter Games and the first that were ever held in a socialist country.
The opening ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics was held on this day in Sarajevo. They were the XIV Olympic Winter Games and the first that were ever held in a socialist country. The cost of the organization was supposedly a total of $ 142.6 million.
At the opening ceremony on this day were representatives of 49 National Olympic Committees and the President of the International Olympic Committee – the famous Juan Antonio Samaranch. The Games were officially declared open by Mika Špiljak as President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia. The Olympic torch was brought in to the stadium by the Slovenian skier Ivo Čarman. The honor to light the Olympic flame went to the Croatian skater Sandi Dubravčić.
Of the medals, it is interesting that the Slovenian skier Jure Franko won the first Yugoslav medal at the Winter Olympics in general (silver in the giant slalom). Twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre of the United States won the first and second place in the slalom. Interestingly, the highest number of gold medals (9 in total) was won by athletes from East Germany, while the Soviet Union was in second place. The USSR won the highest number of medals overall (25) – as opposed to the only 8 won by the United States. The official mascot of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics – the famous Wolfie – is still remembered by many.
