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Misha's tear
This might be the first time in the history of the Olympic Games that a mascot won the impressions to such an extent, so as to be identified with the Olympic organization of Moscow. Who does not still remember Misha, the mascot of the 1980 Olympics, dancing at the opening ceremony and shedding a tear at the closing ceremony, as he bad farewell to the athletes through representations created by hundreds of children in the Lenin stadium with the colourful cardboard they were holding?
The selection of Misha by the Soviet organizers was particularly successful, judging by its reception throughout the world. Therefore, in the future organizations much greater significance was attached to the selection, but also the commercialization of the Olympic mascots. At a symbolic level, the mascot chosen by the Olympic organizers should thenceforward correspond to the meaning of the messages conveyed during the opening ceremonies especially.
However, the criteria in the selection of Misha and its successful presence during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1980 Olympics became the object of many different interpretations. Many people, especially before its official presentation at the beginning of the organization, maintained that it symbolized the power of the Soviet Union, referring directly to the strength of the "Russian bear". However, others maintained that the human emotions (joy, sadness) that were conveyed through Misha's presence aimed to not just express the joy for the beginning of the Games and the sadness for their termination, but also the gratitude towards all the countries that had participated in the organization and the disappointment for the abstention of many other countries, as well as the concern for the future of the Olympics.
In any case, apart from the various interpretations as to Misha's presence, at a practical level, the success of the Soviet mascot increased the interest of the future organizing committees in reinforcing their fund through selling the Olympic mascots.
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