Climbing in Bosnia and Herzegovina has developed since this sport came to Europe, but for economical and other reasons it did not gain a large number of people. With the beginning of the war this sport gets into an 11-year pause and until 2001 there were no activities in northern Bosnia. With the construction of the first artificial wall of our climbing club “Extreme” in Banja Luka, the conditions were made for continuing and developing sport climbing.

Today practice of climbing is growing in ex Yugoslavia. It can be well observed since 90's in Croatia and Slovenia, followed recently in Serbia, and Montenegro. New secure areas appear, as well as climbing gyms (Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Belgrade, Novi Sad) where users can train and discover the activity.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's climbers and citizens are now joining this movement but the main handicap of this project is the lack of a true climbing gym. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains the only country of ex-Yugoslavia that can't provide a real space of meeting, training and emulation. For example, we can for now practice, on small wall and two boulders, only 3 times a week, from 21.30 to 23.30, which is a big problem to greet younger public.

So we observe that potential users can hardly go further discovery because of lack of adapted structure to growing needs. We want to make this climbing gym a new space for sharing experiences and gather good wills, giving a chance to anybody to improve and share the great experience that climbing is. In spite of a big motivation and great natural settings, development of climbing is slowed by this lack of unity, space and time which the gym would provide.

The climbing gym will also provide a new activity. With 250 000 inhabitants and a displayed interest for sports, Banja Luka (second biggest city in B&H) constitutes an important potential market which could sustain the durability of such an establishment.

Concretely, thanks to your paticipation, we expect :

• a central place for all climbers to be free to practice and train at anytime, when they can, get and share information
• children could finally star discovering and practicing climbing
• with the gym all climbers could make a progress bringing climbing in B&H to new level
• place where we could organize the real competitions and educational seminars
• the possibility, for every citizen, to discover climbing in an attractive and secure place, with professionals able to lead them to autonomy
• a new place for students, from school to university, to discover and practice a sport opening new horizons to them.

Climbing club "Extreme" is currently looking for locations for the new gym and a nice place has already been found. We already have a part of the materials. That means that we are getting closer and closer to our goal ; but still: we miss money to invest in renovating the place and equipping it with walls completely and to finance the first expenses related to first few months of constant costs (rent, warming ...): we can hardly find people having enough funds to invest in a completely new and unknown activity. In spite of the Municipality's confidence and participation, we need your help to finally succeed in our project. The whole value of this project is around 20000EUR and so far we gathered around 5000 EUR in work material.

We undertake to study and satisfy any proposition from you in return of your participation to building this place. It can be holds, equipment, investment, loan or simple donation through our website.

We are convinced that thanks to your help, little by little, we can reach our objectives which will be a benefit for the whole climbing community as well as for local community. Participating in our activity, you will help the Balkans to fulfill their potential!

Preliminary design (click on photos to zoom):