Initiative for Bjelašnica and Igman: Do not close ski resorts, the mountain is a source of health

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Initiative for Bjelašnica and Igman has sent an open letter to the Crisis Staff of the Sarajevo Canton, the Government of the Sarajevo Canton and the Ministry of Health of the Sarajevo Canton, appealing not to close ski resorts due to the epidemiological situation.

"Fully aware of the epidemiological situation and the attention it requires, we believe that mountains: skiing, sledding, walking and generally being in the fresh air are a source of physical and mental health, which we must not neglect either. Therefore, we are deeply convinced that closing the ski resorts on Bjelašnica and Igman would be an absolutely counterproductive move.

Why?

The answer is simple: Instead of being at the ski resort, where we ourselves work every day with great care to respect measures, maintain distance and wear bandanas, balaclavas or masks, a lot of people would move to closed urban spaces; shopping malls, shops, children's playrooms... And there, we believe you agree, the possibility of infection is far greater. Isn't it comical to see people wearing masks on the streets of Sarajevo, unfortunately a city that bears the unenviable title of one of the most polluted in the world, and then take them off in crowded and smoky bars and blow in each other's faces.

That's okay, I guess!?

Something else: we already know that most ski enthusiasts, one of the healthiest sports and physical activities, will move to the neighboring Olympic mountain behind the entity line if you close Bjelašnica and Igman. We hope that is not your goal.

And, since the beginning of the pandemic, you should know this best, doctors absolutely recommend natural immunity acquisition instead of us and our children massively taking vitamins, who, as it turns out during the holidays, should probably spend time with laptops instead of in the fresh mountain air.

Specifically:
1. Given that you cite the example of European ski resorts, from which the Covid-19 infection spread, as one of the key arguments for the possible closure of the Bjelašnica-Igman ski center, the concept of the Bjelašnica ski center is completely different, as there are no after-ski parties and closed-type gondolas, which would be potentially dangerous and from which the infection spread, not from the slopes and lifts.
2. Skiing is the safest sport as it is individual, and the only contacts between skiers can be on the lifts and in the queues for the lifts. The company KJP ZOI '84 has properly organized this segment so that a maximum of 3 people can sit on the six-seater, and only one person on the two-seater and the so-called anchor, with proper spacing between each room, and fenced passages in front of the lifts, which prevents close contact between skiers.
3. The eventual closure of ski resorts will achieve absolutely nothing, quite the opposite. It would only encourage greater gatherings of citizens in the urban environment, especially in closed spaces. Also, we are convinced that most skiers from Bjelašnica would turn to Jahorina, which has been operating at full capacity for a long time, and which is certainly less Covid-19 safe, and thus you would only get a counter-effect.
4. In the minutes of the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs made on 11. 1. 2021. regarding the situation at the ski resort, it states: "...There were no crowds in front of the two-seater, all present maintained the prescribed distance. Measures to suppress Covid 19 were posted in a visible place. Attached is photographic documentation of the two-seater and other lifts installed at the ski resort. All places in the ski resort area respected the Covid 19 conditions" which, we hope, speaks enough about the respect of the prescribed measures.

We could list many more arguments against closing the ski resorts here. But there is no need, we are already asking you to think carefully about the counter-effects you can cause to health before any draconian measure, and we are not even talking about the economy now.

And yes... Finally, on behalf of the Initiative, we will further encourage our members and fellow citizens to maximally respect all prescribed measures and reduce the risk to the smallest possible measure, and we believe that this is precisely the case on the mountain," the letter states.