The Olympics Mascot in Russia holds a significant place in the country's sporting history. The tradition of having a mascot for the Olympics began in 1968 for the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Since then, each host country has created its own unique mascot to represent the spirit of the Games. For the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia, the official mascot was Misha the Bear. Misha quickly became an international sensation and is still remembered fondly by many. This lovable bear cub was created by Russian designer Viktor Chizhikov and was chosen from over 4500 submissions.
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.
Read more: Cheburashka: Fun facts about Russia's iconic furry character>>>
This lovable bear cub was created by Russian designer Viktor Chizhikov and was chosen from over 4500 submissions. Misha was the first mascot to achieve such recognition and popularity. Misha's design was instantly recognizable, with its smiling face, blue eyes, and colorful belt.
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Russia olympics mascot
Feb. 20, 2014 at 8:17 p.m. ET
The mascot of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow was Misha the bear, still fondly remembered by Russians today. A marvel of Olympic marketing, the chubby iconic bear was designed by Viktor Chizhikov. WSJ’s Lukas Alpert reports.
The bear was chosen as a symbol of Russia, representing strength, friendliness, and the country's rich wildlife. Misha was portrayed in various poses and activities, including playing sports, wearing a referee uniform, and carrying an Olympic torch. This versatility made it easy to incorporate Misha into various promotional materials and merchandise, making the bear a widely recognizable figure. Misha's popularity extended far beyond the 1980 Olympics. The bear appeared on a range of merchandise, including postcards, stamps, toys, and clothing. Misha also made appearances in animated films and as a mascot for various sporting events. The mascot's image became synonymous with Russia, and Misha's impact on the Olympics branding and global outreach cannot be understated. In more recent years, the tradition of Olympics mascots in Russia has continued. The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi introduced three mascots: a leopard, a polar bear, and a hare. These mascots represented the diversity of Russia's terrain and wildlife. The mascots were well-received and helped to create a vibrant and exciting atmosphere during the Games. In conclusion, the Olympics mascot in Russia has remained an essential part of the country's Olympic legacy. Misha the Bear, the mascot for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, stands out as one of the most popular and iconic mascots in the history of the Games. With its friendly and playful nature, Misha captured the hearts of people worldwide and left a lasting impact on the Olympic movement..
Reviews for "The Fun Facts Behind Russia's Olympic Mascots"
1. Mary - 2 stars: The Russia Olympics mascot was a major disappointment for me. I found the design to be uninspiring and lacking creativity. It seemed like a generic cartoon character that could be found in any children's TV show. Additionally, the choice of a polar bear as the mascot for the winter Olympics in Russia seemed cliche and unoriginal. Overall, I was not impressed with the mascot and felt it did not represent the vibrant and diverse culture of Russia.
2. John - 1 star: I have to say that the Russia Olympics mascot was a complete miss for me. The design was confusing and did not resonate with me at all. The combination of a polar bear, hare, and leopard simply did not make sense to me and felt forced. It seemed like the designers were trying to incorporate too many elements without considering how they would blend together. In my opinion, the mascot design lacked cohesiveness and failed to capture the spirit of the Olympics.
3. Sarah - 2 stars: As someone who loves the Olympics and looks forward to the unveiling of each host country's mascot, I was disappointed with Russia's choice. The mascot felt generic and lacked the charm and personality I expect from Olympic mascots. The polar bear theme, although fitting for a winter Olympics, felt overused and unoriginal. I was hoping for a unique and memorable mascot that would truly represent Russia, but unfortunately, I did not find that in this design.