An Olympic Vote for Moscow 50 Years Ago

An Olympic Vote for Moscow 50 Years Ago

by Philip Barker

This week in Vienna 50 years ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Moscow to host the 1980 Olympics.

Judged in purely sporting terms it was a decision which seemed entirely justified.

Yet political and military developments in the years following the vote threatened not only the 1980 Games but the very future of the Olympic Movement.

After the revolution in 1917, the Soviets had demurred from taking part in international sport and there was little contact with the wider world.

They did not take part in international sport until after the second world war and not until 1952 did they participate in the Olympics. A separate village was built to accommodate competitors from the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations.

Moscow hosted the IOC Session in 1962 and it became clear that the Olympic ambitions of Soviet leaders extended to hosting the Games themselves.

At the 1970 Session in Amsterdam, Moscow presented a bid for 1976. They were actually ahead after the first round of voting but lost out to Montreal in the second round. Los Angeles, the other city bidding finished a distant third

In November 1971, Moscow Mayor Vladislav Promislov and Soviet Olympic Committee President Konstantin Adrianov approved a second attempt, this time for the 1980 Games,

“The Soviet capital has everything essential for the successful arrangement of the Olympic Games.” Adrianov told Brundage.

Moscow was the first city to throw its hat into the ring for 1980.

In 1973, the IOC held its first Congress for over half a century in the Bulgarian resort of Varna.

By now, the Irish peer Lord Killanin had been elected IOC President. He was handed a further communique which outlined the “complete approval” of the Olympic bid by the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet.

“All necessary assistance and support will be extended to the authorities of the city of Moscow, the National Olympic Committee and all sports organisations of the Soviet  Union  to  ensure the successful holding of the Games of the XXIInd Olympiad in adherence to the rules and regulations  of the International Olympic Committee,” said Mikhail Yasnov, Vice President of the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet.

In the race for the 1980 Games, the only opposition to Moscow came from Los Angeles, also bidding again.

United States President Gerald Ford promised that a Los Angeles Games would be conducted with “quality and distinction.” Promotional materials highlighted the Coliseum and ventured that “no city is better equipped than Los Angeles to stage the Summer Olympic Games.”

It was a claim also made by Konstantin Adrianov on behalf of Moscow.

“The sports facilities available in Moscow already today would suffice to meet the requirements of the Olympic Games,” he insisted.

The Moscow Bid book prepared by “A Special Preparatory Committee” boasted approximately 1,500 sports halls, 69 stadia and 26 swimming pools.

The jewel in the crown was what was then known as the Lenin Stadium. This was at the heart of the vast Luzhiniki riverside sports complex.

In 1973, it was the centrepiece for the Universiade with which the Soviets wanted to demonstrate their readiness to host the Olympics.

Invitations were sent to many prominent sporting officials and IOC President Lord Killanin was guest of honour for the Games.

Although the sports events were successful, the event was soured by political incidents. The Israeli team were given a hostile reception as they entered at the Opening Ceremony.

Later in the week, security forces manhandled some of the spectators who had come to see the Israeli basketball team play.

As their Olympic bid book was published, Soviet authorities laid out the red carpet for visiting journalists enabling them to view what were already impressive facilities.

It reminded world athletics chiefs that the Soviet Union had also staged the Znamensky Brothers Memorial Grand Prix on an annual basis.

Major renovations to the Lenin Stadium were planned.

The bid book listed answers to the IOC questionnaire. It gave details of the technical arrangements planned for each sport with a letter introducing the relevant Soviet Federation chief.

A new indoor pool to host swimming was included in the plans.

Sailing was to be held in what is now the Estonian port of Tallinn. “A harbour protected from waves and wind in any weather,” was promised.

“We express our confidence that the XXII Olympic Games, which undoubtedly will be a notable event in the Olympic movement and international sports, will be most fittingly’ held in Moscow, in complete conformity with the Olympic Charter and will in every respect be crowned with success,” predicted Mayor Promislov.

At a crowded press conference table at which all members of the Executive Board were seated, Killanin announced the result of the ballot.

“The city elected to stage the Games of the 12th Olympiad is Moscow,” said Killanin. (In fact these were to be the Games of the 22nd Olympiad. Perhaps there had been a typographical error on the piece of paper handed to Killanin.)

Regardless, another IOC member suggested “this is the wisest decision we have ever taken.”

Killanin had announced that the voting figures would not be made public, but it is believed that Moscow received 39 votes to 20 for Los Angeles.

“Although we were not successful in our efforts, please be assured that our interest in the Olympic Games is undiminished and we look forward to the day when we shall try again,” insisted Los Angeles Mayor Bradley.

“These will be the people’s Games,” predicted Soviet Sports Minister Sergei Pavlov.

The Moscow ‘80 Olympic Organising Committee was constituted “by special decree of the Praesidium.”  It was led by Ignati Novikov, a 68-year-old official.

One year before the Games were to take place, international competitors were invited to take part in the Spartakiad, which actually had a bigger sporting programme than the Olympics. It was therefore a useful ‘test event’ for the Games and received wide international coverage in the media.

The NBC network used the Spartakiad as a dry run for their Olympic coverage.

By October, NBC had sent an advance party of 12 technicians to Moscow.

“We have been working with our counterparts at Soviet television for the last 34 months,” said Executive Producer Don Ohlmeyer.

“The Soviets are right on schedule and as things are going now, I have every reason to believe that the Olympic telecasts will be the biggest ever but also the best.”

Then in early 1980 everything was to change when Soviet tanks moved into Afghanistan.

A bitter campaign to boycott the Games was led by United States President Jimmy Carter. In the final reckoning, the United States, West Germany, Canada and Japan were amongst leading nations which stayed away.

Despite government pressure, Great Britain and Australia did send teams although in common with many nations, they used the Olympic Flag and anthem instead of their normal national symbols.

Originally, the Soviets had planned for the Games to begin in August, but they eventually opened on July 19th.

Radio Moscow insisted they had been conducted in a “festive atmosphere” but many others including senior IOC member Richard Pound, characterised the Games as “Joyless.”