How did the Summer Olympic Games open in Moscow in 1980? (PHOTOS)

During the 16 days of the Olympics, 36 new world records and several dozen more European and Olympic records were set.

At the same time, more than 60 countries boycotted the Soviet Olympics, but they were represented by individual athletes and teams under the Olympic flag. The most number of “neutral” athletes came from Italy.

In total, athletes from 80 countries came to Moscow, including 24 African states, that had boycotted the previous Olympic Games in Montreal.

The opening ceremony was held at the Luzhniki Stadium and amazed the guests with its scale. At the very beginning, girls and boys in antique clothes, accompanied by chariots, came out in front of the audience.

They were followed by the competition participants and the procession was closed by the delegation of the Soviet Union.

The torch with the Olympic flame was carried through the stadium by track and field athlete and three-time Olympic champion Viktor Saneyev, who handed it over to another Olympic champion, basketball player Sergei Belov.

Belov lit the Olympic flame. And Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev declared the Games open.

The most spectacular was the performance of the gymnasts.

More than 16,000 people took part in the production.

Mishka the Bear became the mascot of the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.

At the same time, another 4,500 athletes with colorful flags sat in one of the stands and “created” huge mosaic images. During the opening ceremony, they managed to show 174 images in such a way!

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