Austrian architect set to build new ski jumps close to Sarajevo

By Ivo ScepanovicAn Austrian architect is going to design the ski-jumping facilities on Igman mountain close to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.Gernot Ritter presented his project in Sarajevo this week, saying his intent would be to renovate the infrastructure of the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and create a tourist attraction.The Styrian said that ski-jumping ramps would be constructed in compliance with the rules of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and 50,000 spectators would be able to attend ski-jumping competitions. He said the old ramps on Igman were in very poor condition so their reconstruction would be necessary.”The best solution is to build new ski jumps,” Ritter said.The project two ski jumps (120 and 90 metres high) will cost up to 10  million Euros, and the money will come from EU funds and investment by an Austrian partner, the local media have reported.The presentation in Sarajevo was organized by state-owned company ZOI 1984, named after the Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo.A lot of the infrastructure on Igman mountain was devastated during the war in Bosnia- Herzegovina in the 1990s.