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

A fine art reproduction of one of the most iconic images of the 1980 Moscow Olympics — Misha the Bear extending a joyful greeting in three languages: «ЖЕЛАЮ УСПЕХА!» / "BEST WISHES!" / "BONNE CHANCE!" Printed on museum-quality matte paper, ready to frame to your own specification.

Misha was no accident. Designed by Victor Chizhikov — one of the USSR's most celebrated children's book illustrators — after a nationwide competition that drew over 45,000 public letters, Misha was conceived as a "cuddly ambassador": a deliberate departure from the imposing Russian bear, designed to project peace and friendship at a moment of acute Cold War tension.

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

Publication Details
Original year: 1980
Publisher: Plakat Publishing House, Moscow
Origin: USSR (Soviet Union)
Artist: Victor Chizhikov (Виктор Чижиков)
Occasion: XXII Summer Olympics, Moscow 1980

Want to own the original vintage poster? View the original here →
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Your space should reflect who you are and what you care about. Adding a pop of colour to your walls is an easy way to inject some personality into any room and put a smile on your face.

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Giclée printing quality
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!