The 30th anniversary of the Moscow Olympic...

People’s Painter of Russia, Viktor Chizhikov, told RIA Novosti how the Olympic Mishka, the bear cub mascot of the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980, was created.

This common character from Russian fairy tales was selected as the Olympic mascot in a national vote. Most of the viewers of a popular environmental TV show “In an Animals’ World” voted for the bear cub. A sketch of the bear cub was selected from the hundreds submitted.

In September, 1977 Viktor Chizhikov was notified that his sketch was approved by a commission of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. The Olympic Mishka was selected as the Games’ official mascot.

During the Olympic Games the bear cub became extremely popular. The image was used on pins, envelopes, stamps, souvenirs and clothes.