Thirty-four years before the Winter Games in Sochi, the Soviet Union played host to the Summer Olympics in Moscow. Here is a look back at the opening ceremonies on July 19, 1980. (8 PHOTOS)
Misha The Bear And Brezhnev At The 1980 Moscow Olympics
![Dozens of performers are dressed as Misha, the Olympic mascot, at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow during the opening ceremonies.](https://gdb.rferl.org/5a383623-f265-4634-8b11-0848248543fb_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Dozens of performers are dressed as Misha, the Olympic mascot, at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow during the opening ceremonies.
![Hundreds of participants create a giant hammer and sickle emblem in the stands.](https://gdb.rferl.org/41699b9a-f770-4625-8dca-436bf4e79189_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Hundreds of participants create a giant hammer and sickle emblem in the stands.
![Leonid Brezhnev greets participants and guests during the opening ceremonies.](https://gdb.rferl.org/ec2c624f-bd07-4781-b2e7-5c1baad0ed0d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Leonid Brezhnev greets participants and guests during the opening ceremonies.
![Performers arrive in a Roman-style chariot.](https://gdb.rferl.org/afc527c8-ae31-4f20-994c-8d7be923a30a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Performers arrive in a Roman-style chariot.
![The Olympic flame is seen in its cauldron at Luzhniki Stadium.](https://gdb.rferl.org/6d92f378-c91d-4385-b659-dd10b9039afc_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The Olympic flame is seen in its cauldron at Luzhniki Stadium.
![Misha the Bear floats over the performers.](https://gdb.rferl.org/9a2c4f62-84a5-4f17-8218-99618a656860_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Misha the Bear floats over the performers.
![Fireworks explode over the closing ceremony on August 3, 1980.](https://gdb.rferl.org/c76d00d0-280e-4f7c-8a3e-170e40515e78_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Fireworks explode over the closing ceremony on August 3, 1980.