Friday 26th July 2024
Feature by Lida Hujić for Media Centar Sarajevo
original title: Lijepo je bilo u Sarajevu, dobro veče u Parizu
With the Paris 2024 Olympic torch being on its final leg of relay before arriving to Paris (this evening at the time of posting) to be lit and signal the opening of the Games, Media Centar Sarajevo (MCS) published a feature written by Lida Hujić marking the 40th anniversary of the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games and comparing and contrasting with London 2012.
MCS is one of the most respected independent media, cultural and educational institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Regija (former Yugoslavia) and Western Balkans, emphasising the crucial role of media and culture as resources for diversity. It was established in 1995 by Boro Kontić, an award winning broadcaster, editor-in-chief, film-maker, who’s been at the helm ever since. The First to Know book (part 1: hip) opens up with talking about Boro.
The feature was inspired by a treasure trove of memorabilia from Lida’s father’s Olympic archive. He was member of the Executive Committee for the Sarajevo Games, since inception, when they started to organise the event from a blank canvas.
As someone who lived in three cities that hosted the Games (Sarajevo, London, Paris) and had her little moment of cultural zeitgeist in each, Lida enlisted some east London movers and shakers to reminisce including Samson Soboye, Dr Noki NHS and Dougie Wallace – all with ample presence across social media platforms and wider!
For those fluent in any of the former Yugoslav languages, you can read the feature here:
Alternatively, for commentary in English, find the related post @lidahujic on IG or @thefirsttoknow on FB/Meta. It shouldn’t be time consuming. Lida is not an avid social media user.
The charcaters involved had some fun of their own with the genuine torch from the Sarajevo Olympics, courtesy of Lida’s father!
If Paris is half as welcoming as Sarajevo was, the Games will be a success, reckons Lida. Good luck to all competing! Let the Games begin!
Photo @ Dougie Wallace
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