The Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic Hall, formerly known as Zetra Olympic Hall, is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In June 2010, the venue was renamed in honour of Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former president of the International Olympic Committee, following his death earlier that year. Samaranch played a significant role in supporting Sarajevo’s Olympic legacy and the reconstruction of the arena after it was severely damaged during the Bosnian War. Developed for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, the venue hosted ice hockey and figure skating competitions, along with the Games’ closing ceremony. Beyond its Olympic legacy, the arena serves as a venue for sporting competitions, concerts and other large-scale public events.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic Hall has hosted the closing ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics, making it the last indoor venue to host a Winter Olympic closing ceremony until the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
The building is notable for its distinctive angular architecture and copper-clad roof, which give it a recognisable place within Sarajevo’s Olympic landscape. The hall continued to host ice sports and international competitions after the 1984 Olympics, although its activities were severely disrupted by the Bosnian War. The arena suffered extensive damage in May 1992 and was subsequently reconstructed, reopening in 1999. Its history reflects both Sarajevo’s sporting heritage and the city’s efforts to restore important public facilities following the conflict.
Sarajevo’s Olympic Museum also preserves the legacy of the 1984 Games. Although its collections were temporarily housed at the Zetra complex after the original museum building was destroyed during the war, the museum reopened in its restored historic building in October 2020.
Following its reconstruction, Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic Hall hosted the Balkans Stability Pact Summit in July 1999, marking another important event in the venue’s history. Originally developed for the 1984 Winter Olympics, the arena continues to serve as a multipurpose facility for sporting competitions and other public gatherings. It has also been used for concerts, exhibitions, trade fairs and conferences.
Beyond sporting events, the complex has accommodated administrative and civic activities. During Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2014 general elections, parts of the facility were reportedly used as the main vote-counting centre and for storing election materials.
Descriptions of the complex have also listed supplementary facilities such as a gym, billiards room, bowling alley, shooting range, cafés and offices for sports clubs and associations. Historical accounts mention a small exhibition space dedicated to the 1984 Winter Olympics, reflecting the venue’s continuing connection with Sarajevo’s Olympic heritage.
Trivia
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This famous indoor arena was substantially damaged during the Bosnian War. The venue was destroyed due to bombing and shelling. Later, the basement of the venue was used as a morgue during the war.
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After the war; it had been discovered by the experts that though the building was badly damaged, the foundation remained intact. So, a reconstruction was done in the year 1997.
