The Beijing Winter Olympics are officially over on Sunday after 19 days of competition.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach declared the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games closed here on Sunday.
A roughly 90-minute event in Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest stadium featured fireworks and dazzling special effects centered around images of snowflakes and traditional Chinese themes.
Bach called the Beijing Winter Olympics “truly exceptional” in his speech at the closing ceremony held at the National Stadium.
“The Olympic spirit could only shine so brightly because the Chinese people set the stage in such an excellent way – and in a safe way,” said the IOC chief.
Dispatching the largest ever 388-member contingent, including 177 athletes competing in 104 events of 15 disciplines across seven sports, China aimed to achieve its best-ever results in Olympic history at Beijing 2022.
China earned an unprecedented nine gold medals during the Games, coming ahead of the United States.
“With the truly exceptional Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 we welcome China as a winter sports country,” said Bach. “Congratulations, China.”
The Olympic flag has been handed over to mayors of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the host cities of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 here on Sunday.
Beijing mayor Chen Jining passed the Olympic flag to International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, who then handed it to the mayors of the 2026 host cities.
The floor was then given to Milan-Cortina, who presented their eight-minute show themed “Duality, Together.”
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