Olympic Hall Zetra

Olympic Hall Zetra, also known as Zetra Ice Stadium and Zetra Arena, is an indoor ice hockey arena in Sarajevo, Bosnia. It was used for several events at the 1984 Winter Olympics.

History

Olympic venue

Olympic Hall Zetra was constructed specifically for the 1984 Winter Olympics, hosted in Sarajevo, and was completed in 1983. Its first major event was the 1983 World Junior Speed Skating Championships. It was described as an "ultramodern, angular edifice" [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120612/index.htm "Now Bring On The Torch"] Bob Ottum, "Sports Illustrated," March 14, 1983] with a copper roof. The venue hosted ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating events, as well as the closing ceremony. [http://www.zoi84.ba/index.php?lang=en&sel=4 ZOI '84 OCS] ] [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921555,00.html "A little touch of Heaven"] B.J. Phillips, "Time," February 27 1984]

From 1984 to 1991, Zetra remained in service as a venue for ice sports. It served as the venue for several international speed skating events, and several speed skating world records were broken here.

Destruction

The arena suffered substantial damage and was almost completely destroyed by shelling, bombing and fire in July 1992 during the Bosnian War. [ [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004835/2/index.htm "The Killing Ground"] William Oscar Johnson, "Sports Illustrated," February 14 1994] The remaining areas of the structure, such as the basements, were put into service as a morgue [http://www.nato.int/SFOR/cimic/zetra/t990322c.htm "Zetra returns to the future"] David Taylor, "SFOR Informer" #57, March 17, 1999] [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/travel/05web1984.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=zetra&st=cse&oref=slogin "1984: Sarajevo"] Bonnie DeSimone, "New York Times," February 5 2006] and as storage space for medication and supplies. [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1015533/index.htm "Sarajevo 2010? Collateral Damage"] "Sports Illustrated," April 9 1999] [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976034,00.html "Guns Now, Butter Later"] James L. Graff, "Time," July 20 1992] The wooden seats from the venue were used for material for coffins for civilians killed in the war. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E2D81F3DF934A35754C0A96F958260 "TV SPORTS; Goodwill Games Headed for Bosnia?"] Richard Sandomir, "New York Times," July 7, 1999] [ [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930805&slug=1714418 "Sarajevo's Olympic Seats Are Now Coffin Boards"] Mark Milstein, "London Observer" news service, August 5 1993]

Reconstruction

After the war, it was discovered that though the building was badly damaged, the foundation was secure. In September 1997, reconstruction on the venue, facilitated by the SFOR, began. The International Olympic Committee donated $US 11.5 million to the project, which cost an estimated DM 32,000,000.The reconstruction was completed in 1999.

Current use

Zetra hosted the Balkans Stability Pact Summit in July 1999. [ [http://www.nato.int/SFOR/historic-moments/990728%20Summit/t990728a.htm Balkans Stability Pact Summit] David Taylor, "SFOR Informer," July 28 1999] It is currently in service as a sporting arena.

References