SARAJEVO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 14th European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOF 2019) was officially opened here on Sunday by lighting the Olympic flame by BiH's best athlete Larisa Ceric.
During the opening ceremony in front of 25,000 visitors at "Asim Ferhatovic Hase" stadium, Chairman of Presidency of BiH Milorad Dodik spoke about Olympic spirit, and called on young athletes to compete in a dignified manner.
Dodik emphasized that Olympic flame is back in Sarajevo, the host of the 14th Winter Olympics in 1984.
"You have arrived in the country that is full of diversities, but known for having good hosts," Dodik said, adding that the Olympic torch will contribute to the establishment of peace and opportunities here.
The burning of the Olympic flame in the capital of BiH was emotional for the thousands of visitors in the stadium, and Ceric returned many in 1984 when the Olympic Flame of the Winter Olympics was lit by Sanda Dubravcic.
The ceremony started with the arrival of the symbol of the 1984 Winter Olympics-Vucko mascot, after which the BiH's flag was brought to the stadium by the honorary unit of BiH's Armed Forces, followed by the anthem intonation and the parade.
From Feb. 10-16, 2019, EYOF will bring in Sarajevo and Eastern Sarajevo about 1,600 athletes aged 14-18 competing in eight sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating, snowboarding and curling.
