Skenderija
Encyclopedia
Skenderija is a city center in Sarajevo
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
. It was constructed in 1969 as a cultural and sport center, but was later revitalized and expanded for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Below the structure is a shopping mall. It sustained minor damage during the war but because of lack of up-keep is decaying, it is revitalized since 2007.
of the late 1960s, the city-community planned to build the new Skenderija-centre. It was opened on November 29, 1969 by hosting the première of the Movie "Battle of Neretva". The name Skenderija, which means "Skender's place", comes from the famous Bosnian bay Sandžak beg Skender paša, who build the first trading-centre with 11 shops and the first Muslim monastery of Bosnia
from 1499. Soon the Skenderija was a well known and widely used centre for several cultural events of the former Yugoslavia
. One part of the Skenderija is a youth club called "Dom mladih". Before the war, this was one of the modernist and most western styled clubs of Yugoslavia. It was a very popular place among young people, and big stars of Balkan pop-music, like Dino Merlin
, had started their career here. Also a big shopping-mall is included in the centre, called "Privredni grad".
In 1977, when Sarajevo was voted to host the 1984 Winter Olympics
, they discovered that they needed more than only the brand-new building Zetra
to host every figure skating
and ice hockey
event. So they started to reconstruct and expand the Skenderija into a real state-of-the-art ice-sports centre. It was also chosen as the centre for the representatives and press-reporters.
In 1992, when the war started, the Skenderija was set under shell-fire. The main structure of the building survived without major damage, but the youth-centre was burned out and made unusable.
After the war, there was no need for the centre and it slowly went into disrepair. But in 1999, the city-government of Sarajevo wished to have an exhibition-hall to build up a new economy and trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. So they rebuilt the Skenderjia slowly from 2000 to 2006. It was financed by many private companies, so it is under the ownership of these private bodies. However it now has all of the old functions restored and is back in service today. It is estimated to have over 500,000 Visitors each year.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. It was constructed in 1969 as a cultural and sport center, but was later revitalized and expanded for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Below the structure is a shopping mall. It sustained minor damage during the war but because of lack of up-keep is decaying, it is revitalized since 2007.
History
Due to a lack of an exhibition and sports-centre within the fast expanding city of SarajevoSarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
of the late 1960s, the city-community planned to build the new Skenderija-centre. It was opened on November 29, 1969 by hosting the première of the Movie "Battle of Neretva". The name Skenderija, which means "Skender's place", comes from the famous Bosnian bay Sandžak beg Skender paša, who build the first trading-centre with 11 shops and the first Muslim monastery of Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
from 1499. Soon the Skenderija was a well known and widely used centre for several cultural events of the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. One part of the Skenderija is a youth club called "Dom mladih". Before the war, this was one of the modernist and most western styled clubs of Yugoslavia. It was a very popular place among young people, and big stars of Balkan pop-music, like Dino Merlin
Dino Merlin
Edin Dervišhalidović , stage name Dino Merlin, , is a prominent Bosnian singer-songwriter and musician. He is a popular singer/songwriter in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is also popular in the other countries of the former Yugoslavia such as Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia and...
, had started their career here. Also a big shopping-mall is included in the centre, called "Privredni grad".
In 1977, when Sarajevo was voted to host the 1984 Winter Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
, they discovered that they needed more than only the brand-new building Zetra
Olympic Hall Zetra
Olympic Hall Juan Antonio Samaranch , also known as Zetra Ice Stadium and Zetra Arena, is an indoor multi-purpose arena in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina...
to host every figure skating
Figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Donald H. GilchristAssistant Referee:* Tjasa AndréeJudges: Vladimir Amsel Gerhard Frey Monique Georgelin Ida Tateoka Ingrid Linke Björn Elwin Tatiana Danilenko Oskar Urban Margaret Berezowski Tsukasa Kimura -Ladies:Katarina Witt became the first lady to repeat as...
and ice hockey
Ice hockey at the 1984 Winter Olympics
At the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, one ice hockey event was held: men's ice hockey. Most of the games were held at the Olympic Hall Zetra and some of the games in Skenderija II olympic hall.-Medalists:Source:* Gold -...
event. So they started to reconstruct and expand the Skenderija into a real state-of-the-art ice-sports centre. It was also chosen as the centre for the representatives and press-reporters.
In 1992, when the war started, the Skenderija was set under shell-fire. The main structure of the building survived without major damage, but the youth-centre was burned out and made unusable.
After the war, there was no need for the centre and it slowly went into disrepair. But in 1999, the city-government of Sarajevo wished to have an exhibition-hall to build up a new economy and trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. So they rebuilt the Skenderjia slowly from 2000 to 2006. It was financed by many private companies, so it is under the ownership of these private bodies. However it now has all of the old functions restored and is back in service today. It is estimated to have over 500,000 Visitors each year.