The 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, officially the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were the first Olympics held in a socialist state. The official emblem for the Games was created by Vladimir Arsentiev, a young artist who won an open competition that drew thousands of professional and amateur participants. The emblem was later refined by artists Valery Akopov and Vasily Diakonov. [1]
Design and History
In 1975, the Organizing Committee of Olympiad-80 announced a competition for the best emblem of the Games. More than 26,000 sketches were submitted by 8,500 authors from the Soviet Union and around the world. The winning entry came from Vladimir Arsentiev, at the time a student at the Stroganov School (Stroganov Moscow State Academy of Industrial Art). [2]
Arsentiev’s authorship was challenged by some fellow artists, but archival sketch materials supported his claim, and the logo was later included in the monograph “Stroganovka. 190 Years of Russian Design” as one of the best examples of Soviet design. [2]
The emblem was approved as the official symbol of the XXII Olympiad on July 15, 1976, at the 78th session of the International Olympic Committee in Montreal. [2]
Meaning and Symbolism
The emblem consists of five Olympic rings intertwined at the base, above which six running tracks rise skyward, forming an architectural silhouette crowned by a five-pointed star. [1] The six running tracks grow into a symbolic high-rise building of Moscow, topped by the star. [3]
The stylized silhouette of the running tracks, drawn as hyperbolas, was described as characteristic of Moscow’s architectural appearance, specifically its high-rise buildings. [4] The five-pointed star at the top serves as a reminder of the flag of the Kremlin. [5]
The emblem was designed to be easy to use for badges, graphic prints, and labeling commercial products. Contrast in the image was considered mandatory: a red emblem on a white or light-colored background, or a white emblem on a red background. [1]
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