Fifteen athletes attended in person at the organisation's headquarters in Minsk, with the Olympics in Russia's capital beginning 40 years ago this week.

Athletes from Belarus, who were representing the Soviet Union, won 14 golds, nine silver and 10 bronze medals four decades ago. 

"You are legends not only of the Soviet and national sports, but also of the international sports," said the NOC's first vice-president Viktor Lukashenko.

"Winning 33 awards at the Games in Moscow, you made a huge contribution to the USSR medal collection, becoming idols for us, our youth and children.

"Thanks to this winning spirit, you are still in action, passing on your experience – the invaluable thing you have – to our young generation. 

"You teach them to be like you and, maybe, to surpass you and win their medals at the Olympics."

Among the athletes in attendance was triple Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medallist Alexander Medved, who retired before Moscow 1980 but read the Olympic Oath at the Opening Ceremony.

Vladimir Parfenovich, who won three canoeing gold medals in Moscow, was another to attend.

The Moscow Games were held between July 19 and August 3 in 1980, but they were heavily impacted by an American-led boycott.

Sixty-six countries stayed away in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.