The Olympic Mascot for the year 1980 was called "Misha". Misha was created for the Moscow Olympics, which were held in the Soviet Union. Misha was a bear, which is a symbol of Russia and is also associated with strength and bravery. Misha was designed to appeal to a wide audience, including children and adults. The mascot was featured in a variety of merchandise, including plush toys, pins, and clothing. Misha became an iconic symbol of the 1980 Olympics and remains popular to this day.
Creator of 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot dies at 84
Viktor Chizhikov, the creator of the brown bear mascot Misha for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, has died at the age of 84.
A children's book illustrator, Chizhikov is best known for bringing the iconic mascot to life at the Games which began 40 years ago this week.
The decision to choose the bear for the mascot came as it was the national animal of the Soviet Union, with the Games coming at the height of the Cold War.
Misha was chosen through a Soviet television programme called In the Animal Kingdom.
Viewers were asked to choose between a hare, a stoat, a squirrel, an eagle, a badger, a grouse and a cockerel but the bear was the overwhelmingly popular choice.
The design proved so popular that many Russians still fondly remembered him when the 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi.
More than 60 countries did not compete in Moscow after a boycott was successfully started by the United States in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Four years later in retaliation, the Soviet Union and most Eastern-bloc nations boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
Misha is one of the Games' most iconic mascots ©Getty ImagesAccording to the International Olympic Committee website, a group of artists produced 60 versions of the mascot, but Chizhikov's bear was chosen for the Games.
His death was announced by a children's book publisher on Facebook with a tribute left in his honour.
A statement by AST Deti said: "It's symbolic that the artist has left us as many of us are remembering the 1980 Olympics.
"The image of the Olympic bear once created by Viktor Alexandrovich has touched the hearts of millions."
At the Closing Ceremony for the 1980 Games, a large mosaic of Misha was in the stands showing a tear rolling down its face.
Then, a reproduction of the bear was lifted from what is now the Luzhniki Stadium by colourful balloons.
A Look Back at the Olympic Mascots: 1960s – 1980s
Welcome to part one in our three-part series looking back at the mascots of the Olympic Games! The origins of Olympic mascots are steeped within a rich heritage with the name ‘mascot’ hailing from the South of France and also serving as the name of a popular opera in the nineteenth century, according to the Olympic Museum Head of Programming Anne Chevalley. As it is common to see a mascot in the United States for sports teams and schools, it is only natural to see a mascot — providing good fortune to people from all walks of life — at the Olympic Games. Join us on this throwback as we uncover trivia behind the colorful dachshunds, tigers, bears, snowmen (yes, you read that right!), and many more mascots that have joined us in celebrating the Winter and Summer Olympics throughout the decades!
1960s
Schuss (1968 Winter Olympics, Grenoble)
While Schuss is technically an unofficial mascot, we would be remiss not to include this stylized skier from the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble as a foreshadowing of the unique characters to come in the Games.
1970s
Waldi (1972 Summer Olympics, Munich)
The first official mascot in the 1972 Summer Olympics was Waldi, a dachshund dog. Attendees at the Munich Games Organising Committee Christmas party were given crayons, sheets of paper, and modeling clay to create their own mascot designs. While it is not known how many animals or characters were thought up during that party, the dachshund was the perfect choice as the popular pup is noted for its agility, endurance, and tenacity. Born on December 15, 1969, Waldi had a light blue head and tail with a striped body featuring three of the six Olympic colors. And for those wondering, he also had a real-life counterpart — a dachshund named Cherie von Birkenhof.
Amik (1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal)
Created by Guy St-Arnaud, Yvon Laroche, and Pierre-Yves Pelletier for the 1976 Summer Olympics, Amik means “beaver” in Algonquin. Beavers have a significant role in Canadian culture and are noted for their patience and hard work. Amik wore a red strip with the Montreal Games logo, meant to symbolize the ribbon traditionally used for the winners’ medals.
Schneemann (1976 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck)
Who better to represent the first Winter Games than a snowman? Created by Walter Pötsch, Schneemann (which translates to “snowman” in German) wore a red Tyrolean hat typical of the Innsbruck region. Innsbruck had previously hosted the 1964 Games where there was a significant lack of snow, but Schneemann proved to be more than just a mascot. He was a good luck charm, as plenty of snow fell during the 1976 Winter Olympics.
1980s
Misha (1980 Summer Olympics, Moscow)
Created by popular children’s book illustrator Victor Chizhikov, Misha (full name: Mikhail Potapych Toptygin) was a bear cub that represented the 1980 Summer Olympics. A popular animal in Russia that appears in stories and songs, Misha proudly wore a striped belt around his waist made up of the Olympic rings five colors. The belt buckle itself is composed of the five golden rings.
Roni (1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid)
Inspired by Lake Placid’s then-living mascot — a raccoon named Rocky — Roni was created by Don Moss at Capital Sports for the 1980 Winter Olympics. His name means “raccoon” in Iroquoian and was chosen by Lake Placid school children. More than just honoring his predecessor, raccoons are also natives to the Adirondacks region and Roni himself paid tribute to the sunglasses and hats worn by competing athletes with the black and white mask around his eyes.
Sam (1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles)
For the 1984 Summer Olympics Sam, an eagle created by C. Robert Moore at Walt Disney Productions, was the natural mascot choice to symbolize the United States. Filled with optimism for the spirit of the games, Sam was friendly and cheerful, clad in a hat in the design of the American flag.
Vučko (1984 Winter Olympics, Saravejo)
Never mind all the fables you’ve heard about “the big bad wolf” — they are all totally irrelevant when it comes to Vučko. Created by Slovenian painter Jože Trobec for the 1984 Winter Olympics, Vučko was a friendly wolf who symbolized winter and the forests of the Dinaric Alps region, but also courage and strength. Other noteworthy runner-ups alongside Vučko included a snowball, mountain goat, weasel, lamb, and hedgehog.
Hidy and Howdy (1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary)
Historic for being the first mascot couple, Hidy and Howdy were brother and sister polar bears with names representative of Calgary’s hospitality. Created by Shelia Scott at Great Scott Productions, this polar bear pairing symbolized winter and the Arctic regions in the north of the American continent. Hidy and Howdy wore “Western” style cowboy hats and ensembles as they cheered on athletes during the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Hodori (1988 Summer Olympics, Seoul)
Created by Kim Hyun, who also created the emblem for the Asian Games in 1986, Hodori was a tiger cub that paid tribute to the tiger’s frequent appearances in Korean art as well as the animal’s characteristics, which are associated with nobility and bravery. In his name, “Ho” means tiger in Korean and “Dori” is a masculine diminutive. Hodori had a positive spirit and wore the Olympic rings around his neck, along with the sangmo, a traditional Korean hat, upon his head.
Which throwback mascot from the 1960s – 1980s was your favorite? Let us know on twitter at @howveryheather and @advertisingweek!
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Is Russia’s 2014 Olympic Mascot a Copycat of the 1980 Logo?
This weekend, the four mascots for the 2014 Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics were revealed. But there seems to be a curious air of familiarity surrounding one of them.
The Russian public voted Saturday night for their three favorite mascots via text and phone after a televised unveiling. The top choices – a cuddly rabbit, a sporty snow leopard, and a pudgy polar bear – were chosen from a pool of nine potential mascots. But perhaps you’ve seen the polar bear before? Is it just fond memories, or is the fan-favorite bear mascot a blatant rip-off of the one used in the 1980 Olympic mascot?
Misha the bear was the mascot for the 1980 Summer Olympics held, of all places, in Moscow. The brown bear wore a belt featuring the Olympic rings logo – and bears quite a resemblance to the recently unveiled 2014 mascot. “This polar bear, everything is taken from mine, the eyes, nose, mouth, smile. I don’t like being robbed,” Misha’s creator Viktor Chizhikov told a Russian radio station.
Perhaps during this contest Russians felt a subconscious affinity for Misha’s twin. But all this copycat commotion leaves us wondering: where’s the line between flattery and forgery?
And it seems no Olympic representation can catch a break this week. London’s 2012 logo is facing heat from Iran’s Olympic delegation, who contends the design resembles the word “Zion,” a biblical term often used as a reference to Jerusalem in Israel. The AP reports Iran is threatening to boycott the games because of the logo disagreement.
But in the Olympic spirit of camaraderie and cooperation, let’s save the sparks for the playing field, okay?
Misha became an iconic symbol of the 1980 Olympics and remains popular to this day..
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Reviews for "Misha's Journey: From a Sketch on Paper to the Iconic Olympic Mascot of 1980"
1. John - 1 star - The Olympic mascot from 1980 was a complete disappointment. It lacked creativity and originality. The bear, Misha, was not at all representative of the host country, Russia. The design was bland and unmemorable, and did not convey the spirit of the games. Overall, the mascot felt like an afterthought, and I was left feeling underwhelmed by its presence throughout the event.
2. Emily - 2 stars - The choice of the Olympic mascot for the 1980 games was a missed opportunity. While the idea of a bear was cute, the execution fell flat. The design lacked depth and character, and it failed to capture the imagination of spectators. Moreover, the overall concept seemed disconnected from the theme of the games, resulting in a lack of cohesiveness. I was expecting something more captivating and memorable, but the 1980 mascot just didn't deliver.
3. Robert - 2 stars - The Olympic mascot for the 1980 games was forgettable at best. Misha the bear seemed more like a generic stuffed animal than a symbol of the Olympic spirit. The design lacked originality and failed to leave a lasting impression on both the participants and the audience. It felt like a missed opportunity to create a mascot that would truly represent the host country and evoke excitement. Overall, I was disappointed with the choice of the 1980 Olympic mascot.
4. Sarah - 1 star - The 1980 Olympic mascot was disappointing and forgettable. Misha the bear lacked personality and failed to create any excitement among the spectators. The design was simplistic and lacked the charm and appeal that a mascot should have. It didn't exude the spirit of the games and felt like a missed opportunity to engage with the audience and leave a lasting impression. Overall, I found the 1980 Olympic mascot to be underwhelming and not up to par with previous and subsequent mascots.