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sports1984

1984 Winter Olympics — 14th edition of Winter Olympics, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

January 1, 1984

The 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo were the only Winter Games held in a communist country until Beijing 2022, drawing 1,272 athletes from 49 nations.

Quick Facts

Year
1984
Category
sports

Key Facts

Athletes
1,272 from 49 countries
Events
39 official events across 6 sports
Dates
8–19 February 1984
Top medal table nation
East Germany (24 medals, 9 gold)
First-time NOC participants
5 (incl. Egypt, Monaco, Senegal)
Edition
XIV Olympic Winter Games

By the Numbers

1,272
Athletes
39
Events
8
Dates
24
Top medal table nation

Location

Map of Sarajevo, YugoslaviaMap of Sarajevo, YugoslaviaSarajevo, Yugoslavia

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Sarajevo was selected to host the 1984 Winter Olympics, marking an opportunity to modernize the city and elevate winter sports in Yugoslavia. The Dinaric Alps near the city provided suitable venues, though extreme weather at the outset disrupted the alpine ski schedule by four days.

Event

Held from 8 to 19 February 1984, the XIV Olympic Winter Games brought together 1,272 athletes from 49 countries to compete in 39 events across six sports. East Germany dominated, topping the medal table with nine gold medals, while Yugoslavia won its first-ever Winter Olympic medal through alpine skier Jure Franko.

Consequence

The Games spurred modernization of Sarajevo and growth of Yugoslav winter sports, but the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia in 1992 heavily damaged the city and its Olympic infrastructure. Some facilities were later renovated, while others, including the bobsleigh and luge track, were left abandoned.

Result

East Germany (top medal table)
9 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze (24 total)

at Sarajevo and Dinaric Alps resorts, Yugoslavia

East Germany topped the Winter Olympic medal table for the first time; Yugoslavia won its first-ever Winter Olympic medal

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19841984198119821983198519861987Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics — 1988 edition of track and field athletics at the Olympic Summer Games1984 European Competition for Women's Football — 1984 edition of the European Competition for Women's Football1984 Formula One World Championship — sports seasonHandball at the 1984 Summer Olympics — overview of handball practiced at the 1984 Olympic Summer GamesEurovision Song Contest 1984 — 29th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1984 AFC Asian Cup — international football competition1984 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1984 Summer Olympics medal table1984-winter-olympics-14th-edition-of-winter-olympics-in-s-1984