1980 Moscow Olympics Through Eyes of Foreign Photographers

It was exactly 43 years ago that the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began at Moscow's Grand Arena of Central Lenin Stadium (now Luzhniki Stadium).

After the official ceremony ended, the celebration lasted for a long time. More than 16,000 athletes, amateur and professional artists took part in colorful dance and sports skits.

For 15 days, the world's best athletes competed in Moscow and other Soviet cities. Delegations from 81 countries, totaling 8,304 people, including 5,748 athletes, took part in the 22nd Olympic Games.

At the Moscow Olympics, 36 world and 74 Olympic records were set - an achievement that has not been surpassed to this day.

Take a look at Sputnik's gallery of the most striking photos during this epochal event by foreign guests.

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Models of clothing plant near Stuttgart Feb. 1, 1980, hold five different t-shirts with emblems of the Moscow Olympics 1980 which are produced by the factory for German language countries. According to factory manager there was no loss in selling Olympic souvenirs so far, unaffected by boycott plans of Western countries.

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Russian folk dancers perform, on July 19, 1980, in Moscow at the Central Lenin Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Moscow Summer Olympics.

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Moscow taxi drivers receive foreign language instructions as preparations for Olympics in Moscow Dec. 17, 1979.

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A Soviet truck line delivers huge wrap-covered typical Soviet puppets to the Lenin stadium in Moscow, July 15, 1980, where they will be used for an opening ceremony rehearsal for the upcoming Olympic Summer Games starting on July 19.

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A young Russian sportswoman poses in Moscow, dressed in the uniform of an Olympic torchbearer, in 1979, more than a year before the opening of the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980.

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Zimbabwe diver Antonette Wilken gives Mexican diver Salvador Sobrino a kiss in exchange for the traditional Mexican sombrero he gave her at Moscow’s Olympic Village on Monday, July 28, 1980.

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Young Soviet women wait outside the Lenin Stadium in Moscow, July 23, 1980, for rehearsal of opening ceremonies in track and field competition in the Moscow Olympics. Track and field events got underway on Thursday.

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The Olympic rings stand out against a giant image of the Parthenon during the opening ceremony of the Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics, on July 19, 1980, at Moscow's Lenin Central Stadium.

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Officials from Seagrams show Moscow bartender how to mix drinks to Western Tastes in Moscow Dec. 17, 1979.

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Maxim and Frida Sira of New York City seen in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral on the Moscow Red Square, July 29, 1980. They came with a tourist group to watch the Olympic Games.

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Dancers parade dressed as former Olympians during the opening ceremony of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, on July 19, 1980, at the Moscow's Lenin Central Stadium.

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People crowd outside an Olympic souvenir shop in the area of the main Olympic Stadium, the Lenin stadium, which opened on July 9, 1980, in Moscow. The games will start July 19 with the opening ceremony in this sports arena.

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Muscovites examine a new Olympic billboard with the sign reading “Sport Serves Peace,” in Moscow, April 23, 1980, erected after the United States announced it was boycotting the games.

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Italy’s women’s fencing team tour Moscow’s Red Square Monday, July 21, 1980 despite a little rain, during break in training for the Moscow Olympics. From left to right are Dorina Vaccaroni, Annarita Sparaciari, Susanna Botazzi, Carla Mangiarotti and Clara Mochi.