Original 1980 Soviet Olympic Poster – “Best Wishes!” – Misha the Bear – Artist Victor Chizhikov – Trilingual Edition

One of the most recognisable images of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, this original poster features Misha the Bear — the Games’ beloved mascot — extending a joyful greeting in three languages: «ЖЕЛАЮ УСПЕХА!» / “BEST WISHES!” / “BONNE CHANCE!” The trilingual format reflects the international ambition of the Moscow Games and the diplomatic role Misha was designed to play.

Misha was no accident. In 1977, Soviet organisers held a nationwide competition to design the mascot for the XXII Olympiad. After receiving over 45,000 public letters and commissioning 60 graphic versions from leading artists, the winning design was awarded to Victor Chizhikov — one of the USSR’s most celebrated children’s book illustrators. His brief was precise: Misha had to be small, cuddly, and smiling. A deliberate departure from the traditionally imposing Russian bear, Chizhikov’s Misha was conceived as a “cuddly ambassador” — a soft-power tool designed to project peace and friendship at a moment of acute Cold War tension.

Despite the largest boycott in Olympic history — 65 nations, led by the United States, refused to attend in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan — Misha became the first Olympic mascot to achieve massive global commercial success. The closing ceremony image of Misha floating away over Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, a tear on his cheek, remains one of the most emotionally resonant moments in Olympic history.

Authenticity

100% Guaranteed Original Vintage Poster — not a modern reprint or reproduction.

Artist: Victor Chizhikov (Виктор Чижиков)
Year: 1980
Publisher: Издательство «Плакат» (Plakat Publishing House), Moscow
Occasion: XXII Summer Olympic Games, Moscow
Text: «ЖЕЛАЮ УСПЕХА!» / “BEST WISHES!” / “BONNE CHANCE!”
Origin: USSR (Soviet Union)
Size: 66 × 48 cm (26.0 × 18.9 in)
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper

Condition

Overall: Fair to Good (Vintage Grade)

Wear: Edge wear and creasing along the margins consistent with 46 years of handling — most of which would be effectively concealed behind a mat and frame.

Details: Central image and text well-preserved with colours intact.

This is an authentic vintage item. Please review the high-resolution photographs for a full and accurate representation. What you see is what you receive.

Shipping & Packaging

We handle historic paper with the utmost care to ensure it arrives immaculate.

Handling: Dispatched within 1–3 business days from our Sarajevo studio
Packaging: Rolled in acid-free tissue paper and shipped in a heavy-duty reinforced mailing tube — no folding, no creasing, no edge damage
Tracking: Fully tracked from our studio to your door
Standard delivery: Registered post (BH Pošta), arriving in 1–4 weeks
Express delivery: DHL Express available at checkout — delivery in 2–5 business days

International buyers are responsible for any applicable customs fees or import taxes.

Framing

Professional custom framing is available for this piece upon request. Contact us before checkout to discuss options and tailored pricing.

Want this design as a modern fine art print? View the framed reproduction here → or the unframed reproduction here →
Prefer an instant digital download? View the digital edition here →