In the year 1992, Barcelona prepares itself to experience the third greatest event of its modern history: The celebration of the XXV Olympic Games. This was a time of excitement and hope, but also of great upheaval given that the city of Sarajevo was surviving the siege, the bombings and the snipers. During the Games, the Mayor of Sarajevo, Mr. Kresevljakovic, called on the Mayor of Barcelona, Mr. Maragall, and on all the other Olympic cities to help Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Barcelona City Council responded to the call and became one of the engines of the huge solidarity movement that was already emerging in Barcelona and Catalonia.

The civil society responded to barbarity with demonstrations, solidarity initiatives, civil platforms and calls for peace, amongst other initiatives. At the same time, a solidarity committee was created. Although coordinated from the Barcelona City Council, the committee was formed, on the one hand, by bodies from different sectors such as universities, companies, entities, municipal departments, etc., and, on the other hand, by the participation of individuals, conscientious objectors, Bosnian refugees, etc.

Based upon the political and social commitment with Sarajevo, Barcelona assumes its duty of solidarity and adopts a new municipal function centred around humanitarian aid and support to civil initiatives. Thus, in October 1992, the first of more than forty convoys to Sarajevo leaves Barcelona. During the next four years Bosnia received more than two tonnes of humanitarian aid.