The spirit of youth pervades Zagreb. As many as 47 thousand college students, the same number of high scholars and more than a hundred thousand primary school pupils speed up the rhythm of the city, invigorate the streets and squares with the youth leaving their stamp on the metropolis. Not so long ago, Zagreb played centre stage to the world's youth - as the host of the "Student Olympics", a gathering of young people from 121 countries from around the world at the "University Games '87". Some thirteen thousand participants made friends, partied and sang at the events, while some five thousand were competing before hundreds of thousands of spectators. In preparation for the biggest gathering of young people from around the world, the city underwent a two-year makeover. Monumental architectural works were being completed at over thirty construction sites. After the University Games '87, Zagreb became a different, lovelier city. Definitely, more attractive. What was once the wilderness along the banks of the Sava River and its inlets and gravel pits provided Zagreb with its own seaside - Jarun; the Cibona basketball centre together with business space was erected on Tratinska Road. The Student World Games brought to the students around a dozen contemporary sports arenas like those in Martinovka and in Sutinska vrela in Podsused. The College of Economics, in 1987, received a modern addition, lecture hall and other facilities needed by students. Within the 157 official programs in the games, previously stalled projects were brought to life: a tram link through New Zagreb was completed; trams were also introduced to Jarun and a new bus terminal was opened. The very centre of town underwent the greatest changes. Work on the new Jelacic' square went slowly but in the end, its beauty shimmered together with its pearl - the Mandusevac fountain. The World Student Games have passed but the dynamic spirit of the residents of Zagreb in their efforts to Europeanise their city lingers on, especially after the proclamation of the Republic of Croatia as a free and independent state. A market economy has mercilessly begun to dictate its pace and brings money only to profitable businesses. This results in private investment producing the Maksimir sports centre with twenty-two outdoor tennis courts, four indoor courts, a swimming pool, sauna and an abundance of business space: The Esplanade is expanding with a shopping mall, a pub, a bowling alley, and a 450 space public parking garage. The construction of this same kind of parking garage is being planned for Ibler Square; the new National University Library is being completed and Ilica with many other streets and squares are being refurbished.