Gallery: Olympic fire lit in Tallinn to mark 1980 olympics anniversary
On Wednesday, the city of Tallinn and the Estonian Olympic Committee celebrated the 40th anniversary of the start of the 1980 Moscow Olympics yachting events, which were held in Pirita, by lighting a replica Olympic fire.
The fire was lit at 4.30 p.m. at Raekoja plats in Tallinn's old town, and was then transferred to Pirita, the original venue of 1980 summer olympics' sailing events, by powerboat.
The 1980 olympics had a major impact on the development of the capital of Estonia, with over 50 new buildings and other structures being erected, many of which have become well-known landmarks of the city, including the Olümpia Hotel, the TV tower and Tallinn Arport.
436 house facades were renovated in and around Tallinn, at the same time.
However, athletes from many western and also Islamic nations did not get to see the results following a U.S.-led boycott of the games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan at the beginning of the year.
A total of 66 nations declined to attend; 23 nations were represented at Pirita's sailing events including neighboring Finland, Brazil and Spain. These three countries plys Denmark, and the Soviet Union itself, clinched the gold medals in the yachting events.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste