Brezhnev's classmate who ran Soviet construction for 21 years as the energy technocrat
“Russians are not bears but elephants, because we have a long memory.” — Responding to the American boycott threat at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.
Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers and Chairman of Gosstroy for 21 years, overseeing Soviet construction and energy infrastructure as an economic technocrat (and a Dneprodzerzhynsk classmate of Leonid Brezhnev). He earned the title Hero of Socialist Labor in 1961 for directing the Kremenchug Hydroelectric Station, and as chairman of the Moscow Olympics Organizing Committee (1975–1980) kept the Games on track through the American-led boycott, only to be removed from all posts in 1983 at Andropov's initiative after Brezhnev's death.
Career Timeline
- 1937–1941Director of Factory No. 236, Saratov
- 1941–1943Secretary for Industry and Energy, Saratov Oblast Party Committee
- 1943–1950Head of Main Directorate, People's Commissariat/Ministry of Power Stations USSR
- 1950–1954Deputy Head of Construction, Gorky Hydroelectric Station
- 1954–1958Head of Construction Directorate, Kremenchug Hydroelectric Station
- 1958–1962Minister of Power Station Construction USSR
- 1962Minister of Energy and Electrification USSR (Oct–Nov)
- 1962–1983Deputy Chairman of USSR Council of Ministers & Chairman of Gosstroy
- 1975–1980Chairman of Organizing Committee, Moscow Olympic Games
The Moscow Olympics: Builder on an Unfamiliar Stage
When Moscow won the Olympic bid in 1974 and the organizing committee formed, Novikov's appointment surprised even himself. A 68-year-old construction official with no prior connection to sport, he had to be lectured by subordinates on Olympic history starting from Baron de Coubertin. Novikov worked mornings at Gosstroy and afternoons at the organizing committee, often until 9 or 10 p.m. at age 70.
When the December 1979 invasion of Afghanistan led President Carter to spearhead a boycott, Novikov protested to the Central Committee, "This is a blow to the Olympic Games," only to be told Afghanistan mattered more. At the Lake Placid IOC session in February 1980, where the U.S. demanded the Games be cancelled, Novikov conducted non-stop negotiations and warned: "Russians are not bears but elephants, because we have a long memory." The IOC unanimously rejected the boycott.
On July 19, opening day, a thunderstorm forecast plunged Novikov into despair. But by 4 p.m. the clouds cleared. The Games opened with 81 nations. At the closing ceremony, Kosygin, moved to tears, exclaimed: "Tell them to start again from the beginning!" Yet the aftermath soured: Suslov returned from vacation to cull the awards list, and Novikov received the Silver Olympic Order instead of a second Hero of Socialist Labor star.