In 2017, 37 years have passed since the Soviet Union hosted the Olympic Games. In Moscow and around the world, the event caused a wide resonance. On July 19, 1980 at 16 hours Moscow time, a sound familiar to Muscovites and other residents of the country was heard over the brand new Luzhniki stadium. The chimes on the Spasskaya Tower gave a voice. Following him, the dynamics âcame to lifeâ: the majestic notes of the festive overture by composer Dmitry Shostakovich stirred up the feelings of the people. Thus, signals were given for the opening ceremony of the XXII summer games.
Chitons, togas, chariots
The tradition of large-scale complex sports competitions is rooted in ancient Greece. From 776 BC e. to 394 g. e. 293 of the most important Hellenic national festivities took place in the sanctuary of Olympia. The modern continuation of a good undertaking was made possible thanks to the initiative of a Frenchman, who at the end of the 19th century distinguished himself by rapid social activity. His name is Pierre de Coubertin. The first summer games after the resumption took place in April 1896 in Athens. Subsequently, they were held regularly, every four years, excluding the time of global cataclysms. The XXII Olympic Games awaited their time. In Moscow, under the jubilation of the stands, on July 19, 1980, the "ancient Greeks" entered the huge arena of the Luzhniki Stadium: ordinary guys and girls in toga and tunic.
They were accompanied by "antique" two-wheeled chariots with four harnessed horses each. This was a tribute to the ancient land of Hellas, the eternal spirit of the Olympics. It is worth saying that during the opening ceremony (as well as closing), the eastern tribune was part of the action. Hats, shirt-fronts, flags in the hands of volunteers were formed into thematic paintings, sometimes quite complex (174 subjects).
The process of living âdrawingâ looked like a worrying sea: the waves rolled and receded, giving rise to the outlines of Athens, the Kremlin, the coat of arms of the USSR, and talismans of the miracle that was happening. Moscow-1980 markedly changed. The opening was an exciting moment, to which the country went for six long years. The fact that the USSR will become the host of a grand sporting event, became known in 1974. It is noteworthy that because of the price of the issue, only two cities fought for the right to receive: Moscow and Los Angeles (USA). They say the city of Montreal (Canada), where the XXI summer games were held, got out of debt for thirty years!
Symbolism briefly
The final vote showed: "My dear capital, my golden Moscow ..." won. The head of the country, Leonid Brezhnev, doubted whether the Moscow Olympics were needed, is it worth it to go to such expenses, is it not easier to pay a small penalty fee and step aside? We decided not to refuse: sport is a symbol of peace. But the USSR has always advocated that the guns remain silent, and the ice of the Cold War between the two leading powers - the Soviet Union and the USA - melted. The construction of special facilities began in 1976.
At the same time, it was necessary to ensure that worthy Olympic talismans appeared. In 1977, the host of the program "In the world of animals," Vasily Peskov, invited viewers to choose an animal whose image will form the basis of a magical item that can attract the attention of everyone, will become a favorite of the public. Eighty percent of respondents voted for the teddy bear. Such nominations as a horse, a dog, a bison, an elk, a bee, an eagle, a rooster gave way to him.
An All-Union competition for the best image of clubfoot was announced. A funny teddy bear with a belt of Olympic rings, created by artist Viktor Chizhikov, burst forth. Later, the charming Misha really fell in love and remembered the whole world. The student of the Stroganov School Vladimir Arsentiev became the author of another major symbol that enriched the Olympics-80 (the silhouette of the Kremlinâs Spasskaya Tower, consisting of racetracks crowned with a five-pointed star). All this and many other information can be attributed to the category of pleasant moments of preparation. There were enough others, including a political one.
Boycott of sixty five
Shortly before the summer, when the Moscow Olympics were expected in the USSR, at the request of the leadership of Afghanistan, Soviet troops entered the land of sand and wild rocks (1979). The following actions immediately followed (it is believed that they are somewhat similar to the current protests and sanctions): American President Jimmy Carter strongly advocated the imposition of economic sanctions and a boycott of the Olympic Games. The call to disrupt the event was supported by 65 states, including Monaco, Liechtenstein, Somalia, and others.
Twenty-four countries in Africa arrived at the opening of the Olympics, who cautiously accepted the invitation. The International Organizing Committee did not invite Iran, where the revolution had recently died down. UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim (Austria) publicly uttered words that would mean something like this: "My foot will not be in the socialist den." That's not all. There were problems with the pace of infrastructure construction. In March 1980, âcounted - weptâ: 56 of the 97 planned facilities were ready to receive.
The main stadium "Luzhniki", the Rowing channel in Krylatsky, the Ostankino television and radio complex were handed over only a month before the opening! Today, it seems to many that the Sheremetyevo Airport, the World Trade Center on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, the Cosmos Hotel have always been. But they were built only 37 years ago, due to the fact that the Olympics-80 hurried to us through storms and obstacles of ill-wishers.
An interesting way to Moscow is the famous Greek fire. The relay race of runners, designed to deliver it to its intended purpose, began a month before the opening, June 19, 1980. The torch was lit on Olympus. The long-standing âpriestessâ receiving and transmitting the Olympic flame (1980 was no exception - the main character of the action was the famous actress Maria Moskoliu), obtained the shrine using a concave mirror (lens). The heat of the Sun, converted into an open flame, she handed to the student of the University of Athens Atanasis Kozmopolus in the form of a torch.
The baton of runners, designed to convey the burning greetings of Hellas, was watched by thousands of people from different countries and nationalities. Hot, and at the same time tamed, he successfully overcame 5 thousand kilometers.
Action taken
How much familiar has these Olympic Games stirred up to the bottom! In Moscow, the largest city in Europe, empty arena benches are irrelevant. However, not everything is so simple: everyone was not invited, and who was invited - not everyone responded! Let us delve into this and other situations.
Viewers. As you know, the stands of the Luzhniki large sports arena were filled to capacity on the opening day of the games (capacity 103 thousand people). It is believed that this was not easy: many foreigners handed over (or did not buy) a document for admission to the stadium. The organizers decided and sold tickets for 30 kopecks to the citizens of their native country (of course, bypassing the IOC). Everything worked out perfectly: the crowded stadium rattled, âas if an earthquake had arrived!â
"Sponsors". Sometimes it seems that this concept brought the Olympics in Moscow to our vocabulary. The year 1980 promised a rich harvest for âimportâ investors. They promised mountains of gold in the form of compensation for part of the costs of organizing games. Due to the boycott, some âwent into the fogâ, others reduced their investments. According to the recollections of the head of the Organizing Committee, Ignatius Novikov, only Adidas firm (Germany) completely kept its word. Rumor has it that the âbusinessmenâ were horrified to see the eminent basketball player Sergei Belov, who was entrusted to light the fire of the XXII Olympiad, running to the bowl over the painted shields in competitors' sneakers. The athlete himself explained this by the slippery surface of the path, which forced the use of studded shoes.
The shops. How many rumors have spawned the Summer Olympics! In Moscow (and practically throughout the USSR) in the 1970s they did not go hungry: the products did not differ in âcapitalist diversityâ, but were natural, simple, and useful. Some lamented that there was not even chewing gum (it was considered harmful). Deficiencies made up for. Citizens of parasites, alcoholics, and other unreliable persons set off for the hundred and first kilometer of Moscow, so as not to spoil the overall picture of the reception.
Weather. Why did the Olympics 80 open in July? The USSR is a huge country through which many climatic zones stretch. In the capital, where precipitation is frequent, the most sunny days are in the middle of summer. The calculation was justified.
Hello from space
Forty minutes before Brezhnev's arrival, ignoring President Carterâs ban on raising the flag of America, American Den Patterson (21) deployed the US banner. They say that he and his 88-year-old fellow countryman Nick Paul regretted that there would be no athletes from their country at the games. The holiday did not fade from this. The passage began athletes from the delegation of Greece, completed - from the Soviet Union.
And between them there were ambassadors of 16 national teams: Australia, Andorra, Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, France, Switzerland. You can call the summer Olympic Games a hymn to the international.
In Moscow, at the Luzhniki Arena, during the ceremony, participants simultaneously released 5 thousand pigeons into the sky. The use of birds in such discoveries was banned after a monstrous event. In 1988, in Seoul, the birds flew and sat on the edge of the bowl. Poor fellows burned when the fire of the Olympics broke out. Who would have thought that living Olympic talismans would die so ridiculously?
But back to the topic. In July days, the spaceship of the Universe was plowed by the Soyuz-35 spacecraft with cosmonauts Valery Ryumin and Leonid Popov on board. Their congratulations to the participants and spectators were reflected on the huge screen. Speaker was Lord Michael Killanin, President of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). No one knew that shortly before the Olympics, the veteran resigned. He conveyed a word of greeting to Leonid Brezhnev. The Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union declared the Olympic Games in Moscow open.
It was after his words that a group of standard-bearers brought out the Olympic flag and twenty-two athletes marched nearby, holding white doves in their hands. Birds of the world were supposed to fly into the Moscow sky after raising the flag, on the eve of arrival at the Olympic flame arena. He was brought by athlete Viktor Saneev. I ran a torch along the treadmill, making a peculiar lap of honor, and handed over a precious burden to the champion of the 1972 Olympic Games, Sergey Belov. The athlete of high growth (190 cm) seemed to âflyâ on the flooring over the swirling human sea directly to the bowl to solemnly light the Olympics fire.
To all records your proud names
Dances of the peoples of the Soviet Union, acrobatic performances - it was a triumph of good and peace, a triumph of the beauty and power of the USSR, followed by busy days of competition. The results of the Olympics are as follows. The USSR national team won 80 gold, 69 silver and 46 bronze medals, winning the unofficial team count. Here are some names of the heroes: Victor Krovopuskov (fencing), Yuri Sedykh (hammer throwing), Alexander Starostin (modern pentathlon), Tatyana Kazankina (runner), Alexander Melentyev (shooter), Nelly Kim (gymnast).
Swimmer Vladimir Salnikov for the first time in the history of Soviet sport became a three-time Olympic champion. Alexander Dityatin is recognized as the only gymnast in the world who has medals in all exercises evaluated by judges. And this is only a fraction of the achievements of Soviet athletes. They took the "gold" in almost all types of competitions, including volleyball, water polo, basketball. (Football, boxing and rowing left much to be desired).
By the way, Rika Rainish, Barbara Krause, Karen Mechuk (swimmers, GDR), Vladimir Parfenovich (kayaker, USSR) were named three-time Olympic champions. Gymnastics veteran (at the age of 28!) Nikolai Andrianov proved: âhe who wants to achieve itâ - and won two gold, two silver and one bronze medals. Inessa Dirs (swimming) brought the same merit of the award home to the German Democratic Republic.
Everyone heard the name of the gymnast Nadi Comanechi (Komenech) from Romania (2 gold, 2 silver medals). She performed after a severe back injury, showing an example of perseverance and fortitude. Gymnasts Elena Davydova, Alexander Tkachev, swimmer Sergey Koplyakov had two âgoldâ and one âsilverâ. Natalia Shaposhnikova distinguished herself (two gold and two bronze medals).
Enemies tried to "boo" the results, arguing that the Olympiad was held in the absence of powerful rivals from the countries boycotting the event. But no: all victories were deserved and significant. The intensity of the struggle went through the roof. 74 Olympic records included 36 exceeding the world. The country and the whole world forever remembered 1980. The Olympic Games in Moscow, the Soviet one, saturated with the spirit of equality and fraternity, will never be again.
The hour of farewell has come
Meanwhile, the closure of the Olympics. The ceremony took place on August 3, 1980. During the games, athletes from different countries, fans became one big family. It was obvious: human capabilities are great. Aimed at peaceful sporting victories, they destroyed language and political barriers. At half past five in the evening a message was heard that The competitive program of the Games has been successfully completed.
The last set of awards was played by equestrian masters. The overall outcome of the XXII Summer Olympics was as follows: first place - the USSR (195 awards, including the RSFSR - 56, the Ukrainian SSR â48, the Belorussian SSR â19, the Moldavian USSR â1). The second is the German Democratic Republic (126 awards), the third is Bulgaria (41 medals). At 19.30, a celebration of joy and sadness started: before the eyes of thousands of spectators, the Olympics-80 became history.
And again the crowded stands. The illuminated arena shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow. Thundered fanfare. Everyone thought: what last hello will the Moscow Olympics give? 1980 seemed to end with her. The central box was allocated for the country's top leadership - Yu. Andropov, V. Grishin, A. Kirilenko, A. Kosygin, M. Gorbachev (L. Brezhnev was on vacation at that time), and other honored guests. Killanin was about to hand over the leadership to Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Without pyrotechnics
The spectacle began with a parade of athletes. The standard bearers came out, then the athletes. The column was not divided into countries and peoples. Greek and Soviet flags fluttered on flagpoles. The hymns of these countries were performed. According to the rules of the closing ceremony, they were supposed to raise the US flag, where the 1984 Summer Games were to be held. But in the midst of the Cold War, they compromised and raised the flag of the city of Los Angeles. Lord Killanin declared the Olympics closed.
The outgoing leader of the IOC urged not to use such events as a means of political protest. At 20 hours 10 minutes, athletes (8 people) carried off the lowered Olympic flag. The fire in the bowl, born in Olympia, began to slowly fade. Five times a salute sounded. Many spectators in the stands cried. For the first time in all time, the stadium scoreboard did not reflect minutes, seconds, meters not overcome, but became the screen of an unusual cinema. People saw a short film, where the highlights were repeated again. And where was the Olympic Bear? A song about him spread all over the world!
And then he came, the last moment. Wrestlers, gymnasts, swimmers, all-around, runners and other heroes of the Moscow Summer Olympics left the arena. Spectators remained in the stands. It seemed that the upcoming riddle - the sparkling show of Joseph Tumanov's colors - was intended only for them - the most faithful, loud, sincere. At this moment, sport and art merged together. The evening time was not chosen by chance: when the day goes blank, the spaces turn into a mysterious background for a grandiose light show. Pyrotechnics was not planned.
Acrobatic studies
The light was either dimmed or flashed again, the action continued! It soon became clear: the athletes left to return! The audience, who had just watched the performances of the dance groups, saw how the strongest acrobats of the world, Europe, the USSR joined the athletes, together performing exercises with a ribbon-scarf. Those who attended the closing ceremony testify: it is impossible to forget how a wonderful flower from flexible, well-shaped bodies grew and flourished in the arena!
At this time, Bear was languishing in the space under the stands. The huge doll, ready for âtake-offâ, had to be deflated and inflated again: it did not pass in any way along the dimensions of the trench directing it to the stadium. While the technical issue was being decided, the show continued. The field has turned into a huge square for Russian festivities. The dance was spinning, snapping harmonica and balalaika sounded. There were some huge nesting dolls. They were taken out by truck.
As if in a fairy tale, birches grew, white swans surfaced - five thousand people armed with color tablets created an artistic background in the stands. There were more than one hundred fifty changing paintings! Enviable coherence of action! There were no failures. Finally, Bear appeared. For some time he sailed through the stadium, held by an escort team.
Fairytale Forest on Sparrow Hills
Having caught up with the flaming bowl, the talisman began to wave goodbye paws at the stands, which were becoming quieter: the fabulous Misha had come to go to his fairy forest. These are words from a song under which the pet left Luzhniki. He flew away, according to the plan, rising up three and a half meters, began to move away from the stadium past the bowl, under the blurred tears of the audienceâs eyes.
The closure has occurred. Leaving the stands, some fans probably wondered where the clubfoot would land. There were those who did not want to lose faith in a romantic outcome. For them, the talisman to this day lives in a magical spruce tree far (or near?) From Moscow. The night of farewells, hopes for new meetings, promises not to forget each other was in full swing in the Olympic village. A glorious rubber beast landed on the Sparrow Hills, was picked up by a search team and sent to a warehouse.
So the Olympic Bear remained the âmystery of the centuryâ with the difficult fate. The song of this character ended on the Sparrow Hills. They picked him up and hid him in a warehouse. They say that buyers from West Germany have long persuaded the authorities to sell them yesterday's talisman for good money. But the sale did not take place.
Misha had another minute of fame. He exhibited in the pavilion at VDNH. According to some reports, the legend soon came to an end. At the place of storage in the basement of the Olympic Committee, mice and rats destroyed him. But the talisman remained in the memory of the people. Like the Olympics 80 itself.