Behind the Curtain: Moscow Olympics 35 Years On

The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow launched on July 19 and became both the first summer Olympic games to be held in Eastern Europe and the first summer Olympic games to be held in a socialist country. Despite a US-led boycott, athletes from 80 countries participated in the event, which was attended by about 5 million spectators.

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Preparations for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. July 25, 1976

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Huge wall painting on new buildings just opposite of the Olympic Village in Moscow, featuring athletes marching with sports flags. July 1980

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Former Olympic gold medalist Marina Koshevaya transfers the Olympic flame to a bowl in front of Moscow’s Red City Council on Gorky Street in Moscow. July 19, 1980

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© Sputnik / Valeriy Shustov

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Opening of the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow. July 1980

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Vyatkin

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People attending 1980 Moscow Olympic Gamesare are greeted by the representatives of the fifteen Soviet republics.

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Young man displays a US flag during the opening ceremony of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. July 19, 1980

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Akimov

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Official opening ceremony of the 22nd Olympic Games in Moscow.

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The Olympic flame rises over the Lenin's statue outside Lenin Stadium in Moscow during the 1980 Olympic Games.

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Rodionov

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Bulgaria's Alexander Tomov (L) and Soviet Alexander Kolchinsky (R) compete during the final bout of the Greco-Roman wrestling tournament at the Twenty-Second Olympics.

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© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev

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Athletes compete during the 3,000-meter steeplechase race at the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow.

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Vladimir Salnikov of the USSR celebrates his win in the 1,500-meter freestyle swimming event. He ended up winning the gold medal, with a time of 14 minutes and 58.27 seconds, shattering a four-year-old record. July 22, 1980

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© Sputnik / Sergey Subbotin

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Winners of the equestrian competition at the Olympic pedestal (left to right): Nikolai Korolkov (silver, USSR), January Kovalczuk (gold, Poland), Eras Perez (bronze, Mexico). Moscow, 1980

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© Sputnik / Dmitryi Donskoy

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The Olympic Flame at Lenin Central Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 22nd Olympics.

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© Sputnik / Dmitryi Donskoy

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Closing ceremony of the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. Lenin Central Stadium (Luzhniki). August 3, 1980

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© Sputnik / Vladimir Rodionov

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Closing ceremony of the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow. August 3, 1980