The 1980 Moscow Olympics mascots were a symbol of the cultural and artistic elements of the Soviet Union. The mascots for this edition of the Olympics were Misha the Bear and the floral emblem. Misha the Bear was chosen as the official mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The bear has been a symbol of Russia for many years, representing strength, courage, and friendliness. Misha was portrayed as a smiling, chubby bear wearing a blue and white tracksuit with the Olympic logo. He quickly became a beloved figure, both in Russia and around the world.
"My debut in print was on 23 February, 1952," he recalled, saying he used the fee for a cartoon in a newspaper for municipal workers to buy his mother a bottle of perfume and go to the cinema.
Born in Moscow to architect parents, Chizhikov started out as a cartoonist whose work appeared in the satirical magazine Krokodil, aimed at adults, as well as in numerous children s publications with print-runs of millions. Finally, the helium-filled figure flew off as Soviet stars performed a song with the lyrics Goodbye, our affectionate Mishka, go back to your fairytale forest.
He quickly became a beloved figure, both in Russia and around the world. In addition to Misha, the floral emblem was also highlighted as a mascot. It was a colorful emblem featuring different flowers, representing the various regions of the Soviet Union.
Bear necessity: Designing a mascot for the 1980 Moscow Olympics
Olympic Mishka, the mascot of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, welcomes visitors of Gorky Central Park. Moscow, USSR.
July 19, 1980 saw the opening of the Olympic Games in Moscow. The mascot for the event – a charming teddy bear with a belt of Olympic symbols – is still popular in many countries around the world. Its author, artist Viktor Chizhikov, tells the story of its creation.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta: How did the story of the Olympic mascot begin?
Viktor Chizhikov: I then worked at a children's publisher and knew nothing about the competition for the Olympic mascot. It all happened by chance. My friend was met by one of the leaders of the Russian Union of Artists, who told him about the competition, that the Olympic Committee had already received 40,000 versions of bears, but the jury could not find a suitable one.
And he suggested that children's artists also take part. The time limit was one month. In about a week, we drew pencil sketches – more than 100 bears – and took them to the Olympic Committee. After some time, my wife met my friend in the street and asked him: "Why are you so sad?" He answered: "I just found out that Vitka's [a diminutive of Viktor] bear passed, and mine didn't."
Viktor Chizhikov. Source: Vyacheslav Un Da-sin/TASS
RG: So they chose your sketch. And were there any special instructions afterward from the Communist Party to adjust the image?
V. C.: I had to draw a bear that was unlike any other bear drawn by thousands of artists. This is a difficult task, the one that was facing me. Our country should not have been in any case accused of plagiarism. And Mishka, thank God, passed the exam.
RG: Your Mishka is very different from those represented by the foreign press.
V. C.: A Russian bear was often used in political cartoons. It was an obscene, boorish bear. But I wanted to make an optimistic image, for it to appeal to the best human feelings. It took me long to convey the "Olympic" quality of Mishka. At first I thought of putting a multicolored cap on it – with each wedge of the color of the flag of the Olympics participating countries. But because of the cap, you could not see the ears. Hang medals around the neck? But they hang them on all mascots. The beaver in Canada also had medals.
They said I copied Mishka from my housemate, composer Valery Zubkov. I didn’t argue, a good man. In reality, I saw Mishka with an Olympic belt in a dream. It happened many times when I was working on an image. The main thing is to instantly wake up and draw it, or you forget it.
In August 1977, there was an exhibition in Moscow, where 64 bears were presented. The president of the IOC, Lord Michael Killanin, came. He looked and looked and suddenly stopped right by my work and said: "This is it!" I was told this by one journalist.
I got a call from the Olympic Committee only after a month, probably they were waiting for the party's approval: "Congratulations, your bear has been approved." That's the whole biography of the bear. However, it cost me a lot of nerves.
Olympic Mishka flying away from the Lenin Central Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 22nd Summer Olympic Games. Source: Semyon Maisterman and Nikolai Naumenkov/TASS
RG: You mean the copyright registration process?
V. C.: Nothing was legally formalized. I was asked to sign documents affirming that I had carried out the work under the title of "Funny Little Bear."
They gave me 1,300 rubles in the Olympic Committee's accounts department and some more money came to my bank account. In total, I received about 2,000 rubles [the average monthly salary in the USSR in 1980 was 120 rubles – RBTH].
The mascot shouldered over 90 percent of the Olympic propaganda. But that's not the main thing. After the 1980 Olympics, the world's attitude toward us significantly improved, and Mishka played a considerable role in this. I had an unusual mission, and I did a good job.
It was a rare stroke of luck. I love it like my own child. And I am very grateful to the director of the 1980 Olympics, Tumanov, for the great image of the bear in the stands. Remember when a tear rolls down its cheek? The likeness wasn’t distorted, which can't be said about the rubber Mishka that flew out of the stadium. I would set totally different proportions.
The image of Mishka was then replicated around the world. I wasn’t surprised when I saw it in a different guise: In the form of a bottle of perfume, for example, or on a box of matches. And in Prague, my Mishka promotes the Museum of Communism. It is depicted on a poster with a Kalashnikov assault rifle – although there is a hope for peace in the eyes of my Mishka.
Some merchant sailors told me that, when in Polynesia, they presented a poster with Mishka to a Papuan leader. Those were the places visited by [Russian explorer] Miklouho-Maclay. That's funny.
The article has been published in an abbreviated form. First published in Russian by Rossiyskay Gazeta.
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The flowers depicted included tulips, poppies, daisies, and sunflowers. This emblem aimed to showcase the diverse and rich natural beauty of the Soviet Union. The mascots played a significant role in the promotion of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. They appeared on a wide range of merchandise, including toys, pins, stamps, and clothing. Misha the Bear became a cultural icon, and his image was used to advertise and promote the Games. The mascots added a sense of fun and excitement to the 1980 Moscow Olympics. They brought joy and enthusiasm to the event, representing the warm hospitality of the host country. Misha the Bear and the floral emblem were an essential part of the identity of the Games, and they will forever be remembered as symbols of the 1980 Moscow Olympics..
Reviews for "The Hidden Symbolism behind the 1980 Moscow Olympics Mascot"
1. John - 2/5
The 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot, Misha, was quite underwhelming for me. The design of the bear was simple and lacked any memorable or unique features. Moreover, the choice of a bear as a mascot seemed unoriginal, especially considering the wide variety of possible animal symbols in Russia. Overall, Misha failed to capture my attention or create any sense of excitement for the Olympic Games.
2. Sara - 3/5
Although the 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot, Misha, is considered a classic among some, I personally found it to be quite dull. The bear design was unimpressive, and the colors used were lackluster. Additionally, Misha seemed to lack any appealing characteristics that would make it stand out from other mascots. Overall, I was disappointed with the choice of Misha as the official mascot for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
3. Michael - 2/5
Misha, the mascot for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, was a missed opportunity for creating an iconic symbol for the games. The bear design was too generic, lacking any unique or memorable features. It felt like a lazy choice to represent the host country, especially considering the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Russia. The lack of creativity in the mascot design was reflective of the overall lackluster atmosphere surrounding the 1980 Moscow Olympics.