The XXIV Olympic Winter Games Closes Successfully in Beijing, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, and IOC President Thomas Bach Attend the Closing Ceremony

On the evening of February 20, 2022, the closing ceremony of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games was held grandly at the National Stadium. Party and state leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan, as well as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, attended the closing ceremony.

From 2008 when the century-old Olympic dream came true, to 2022 when the city joined hands with the Olympic Movement again, Beijing has become the first city ever to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games. Over the past 16 days, Beijing has witnessed the glory and dream of competitive sports and embodied the solidarity and friendship of human society. Under the Olympic flag, nearly 3,000 athletes from 91 countries and regions have outperformed themselves at full stretch. They have broken two world records and 17 Olympic Winter Games records, playing a brilliant movement of "Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together". Despite the impact of the pandemic, China has made great efforts to host a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Winter Games. Its top-line venues and facilities, as well as excellent organization and service, have won plaudits from the Olympic family and the international community. With nine golds, four silvers and two bronzes, the Chinese delegation has set new records for the number of both golds and medals won at a single Olympic Winter Games. It ranked third at the gold medal table, the country's best result since it participated in the Games in 1980.

Against the backdrop of the dark sky at night, the National Stadium was beautifully lit in rich colors and full of a warm atmosphere.

With the tune of "Peace - a Community with a Shared future", Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan, and Bach stepped onto the rostrum and waved to the audience, drawing rapturous applause from them.

At 8:00 p.m. sharp, the closing ceremony started with the opening performance "Lighting the Emblem". Children carrying snowflake-shaped lanterns lit up the emblem of "Winter" on the venue according to the Chinese tradition of celebrating the Lantern Festival with festive lanterns.

All stood up. With the magnificent national anthem of the People's Republic of China, the bright five-star red flag was hoisted slowly.

A huge pattern of Chinese knot appeared on the venue, and flag bearers walked into the venue with the flags of 91 delegations participating in this Olympic Winter Games. With the classic tune of Ode to Joy, representatives of athletes entered the venue. The audience expressed warm congratulations and hearty respect to the athletes with applause and cheers.

The short video "2022 and Me", which reproduces the splendid moments of athletes excelling themselves with great passion and tenacity, was played on the big screen. Subsequently, awards were given to the winners of Women's 30km Mass Start Free and Men's 50km Mass Start Free, both in the discipline of cross-country skiing.

The sincere smiling faces of volunteers were continuously presented on the big screen. On behalf of all athletes, the newly elected members of the IOC Athletes' Commission paid tribute to the six representatives of volunteers and expressed sincere gratitude to the numerous volunteers. The "Recognition of Volunteers" protocol was first introduced to the world at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games, and has been a part of closing ceremonies ever since. During this Winter Games, tens of thousands of volunteers have won universal praise for their hard work and warm service.

The IOC short video "Powered by Belief", which vividly demonstrates the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together", was played on the big screen.

It's time to bid farewell as the grand event is drawing to a close. Chinese people living in the ancient times often bid farewell with a willow twig. 365 ordinary people from all walks of life and of different ages each holding a willow twig gathered in the center of the venue, representing 365 days of longing throughout the year. A white beam was lit up from the center of the venue, forming a monument of light that props up the Olympic Cauldron "Big Snowflake". The short video "2022 and Us", which records the warm scenes of the Olympic Winter Olympics, was played on the big screen.

Subsequently, the ceremony of hoisting the Greek national flag and playing the Greek national anthem was held.

The Olympic flag was lowered slowly to the Olympic anthem sung again by children from the mountainous area of Fuping, Hebei Province.

The handover ceremony of the Olympic flag began. Mayor of Beijing Chen Jining waved the Olympic flag and handed it to IOC President Bach, who afterward handed it to Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, and Gianpietro Ghedina, Mayor of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The two cities are the hosts of the next Olympic Winter Games.

The Italian national anthem was played and the Italian national flag was hoisted. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo presented a wonderful artistic segment "Duality, Together".

Later, President of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Cai Qi delivered a speech, saying that in these unforgettable 16 days, athletes from all corners of the world have excelled themselves in the races and impressed the audience with the charm of sports, interpreting the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together". Members of the Olympic family have worked together, and various media outlets have covered the Games in an all-encompassing manner, presenting to the world every wonderful moment inside and outside the Games venues. I would like to thank all the friends who have participated in, supported and dedicated themselves to the Games. You also embodied the wonderful Games. Beijing has shown unique charm as the first city ever to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games. This Winter Games opened a new era of global ice and snow sports. Let us remember this unforgettable moment of the Winter Games and work together for a better future for mankind.

IOC President Bach delivered a speech. He said, the Olympic Villages were outstanding. The venues - magnificent. The organisation - extraordinary. Our deepest thanks and gratitude go to the Organising Committee, the public authorities and all our Chinese partners and friends. With the truly exceptional Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, we welcome China as a winter sports country. In the end, Bach declared the XXIV Olympic Winter Games closed, and called upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo to celebrate the XXV Olympic Winter Games.

As this Winter Games drew to a close, the short video "Farewell! Together for a Shared Future!" was played on the big screen, leaving indelible marks on the moment of the Chinese people bidding farewell reluctantly to the guests from all over the world.

At 9:35 p.m., the moving theme song of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games "You and Me" sounded again, and the sparkling Olympic rings rose from the center of the venue. The Olympic Cauldron "Big Snowflake" was lowered slowly, and the Olympic flame that has burned for 16 days gradually went out to the ethereal singing of "Snowflake".

Grand fireworks shot up in the sky, making the shape of five rings over the stadium and the words "One Family" both in Chinese and English. Singing, applauses and cheers resounded through the sky, making the National Stadium a sea of joy.

The members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee who were in Beijing, vice-chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, state councilors, President of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and vice-chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who were in Beijing, as well as members of the Central Military Commission, attended the closing ceremony.

Responsible officials of the IOC and others attended the closing ceremony.