The Beijing Winter Olympics are officially over after an emotional closing ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.
Following 16 days of competition, the Australian team will return home with its best-ever result from a single Winter Games, with four medals — one gold, two silver and one bronze.
The party atmosphere for the traditional athletes' parade saw competitors from most of the 91 nations dancing in the Bird's Nest stadium.
Australia's flag was carried by three-time Olympian, ski-cross competitor Sami Kennedy-Sim, and her teammates could be seen swaying and moving next to various countries as Beethoven's Ode to Joy played.
The ceremony featured a traditional Chinese feature of farewell, the gifting of willow twigs as a sign of remembrance.
The formal part of the ceremony saw the Olympic flag lowered and given from the Mayor of Beijing, Chen Jining, to IOC president Thomas Bach, and then to the mayors of Milan and Cortina — the two Italian cities that will next host the Games in 2026.
A video presentation gave a preview of the next Games, with "duality, together" — a meeting of city and mountains, nature and humanity in dealing with a fragile planet and environment.
The video, complete with skiers racing down mountains carrying Italian flags, ended with a vision of the emblem of the next Winter Olympics.
Mr Bach officially closed the Games after thanking the Chinese people and volunteers, and the athletes and teams who took part in the Games for "giving peace a chance".
Finally the Olympic flame — which had burned constantly in the snowflake-shaped cauldron at the main stadium for the duration of the Games — was put out, and the ceremony came to a close with fireworks and a farewell singing of Auld Lang Syne.
Look back on the finale to Beijing Winter Olympics in our closing ceremony blog.
Key events
Live updates
By Andrew Mcgarry
Time to say goodbye
That's where we will leave it.
Congratulations to the organisers, volunteers, athletes and everyone involved with the Beijing Winter Games.
Bravo to the Australian team who will return home with amazing memories and the best overall result in Australian Winter Olympic history.
Thanks to those involved with Milan-Cortina, who gave us a thrilling taste of what we have in store in Italy in four year's time.
Our own Simon Smale will have a piece wrapping up these Games on the site in the morning.
We will, of course, be back covering the Beijing Winter Paralympics from March 4.
But in the meantime, from myself, Andrew McGarry, it is time to say goodbye to the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Thanks for joining us on the blog. Goodnight.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The flame goes out
When Beijing held the 2008 Olympics, they revealed the rings above the stadium.
Now the choir sings the same musical theme from that ceremony as the rings rise to meet the snowflake cauldron.
The snowflake cauldron is lowered from the top of the stadium, as the flagbearers gather around the flame.
The flame flickers, and as one solo singer from the choir sings, the focus is on the flame with the lights narrowing on it before it finally goes out.
Now the snowflake pulses again without the flame as the stadium lights up again.
One more chorus of the song, as the flagbearers spread out across the floor.
Now an adult choir joins in, and the music swells once more - snowflake images rise toward the skies.
And finally the fireworks explode - the Games are over and the celebratory display sounds like thunder over the stadium.
A dramatic end to a dramatic Games!
There is time for one chorus of Auld Lang Syne inside the stadium as the flags wave and the lights pulse ... and that's it for another four years!
By Andrew Mcgarry
China says goodbye
There is time for one more video, with people across China pictured waving goodbye, releasing balloons saying "bye" into the sky.
There are the volunteers, people waving from venues, athletes and others.
There are a few tears shown over the piano accompaniment,
And one last view of Bing Dwen Dwen
By Andrew Mcgarry
Thomas Bach declares the Games of the Beijing Winter Olympics closed
And now, I have to mark the end of this unforgettable Olympic experience. I declare the 24th Olympic Winter Games, Beijing 2022, closed.
He then makes the traditional call for the youth of the world to gather in Milan-Cortina in four years time for the next Winter Olympics.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The IOC president thanks the organisers, the volunteers, the support of everyone from the Chinese people.
The Olympic Villages were outstanding. The venues magnificent, the organisation extraordinary. The support of the Olympic communities, the international federations, our top partners and broadcasting partners unwaivering. Our deepest gratitude goes to the organising committee, the public authorities, and all our Chinese partners and friends.
By Andrew Mcgarry
IOC president Thomas Bach
Dear athletes, over the past 16 days, we admired your outstanding performances. Each and every one of you strived to achieve your personal best. We were deeply touched how you were wishing and cheering for your competitors. To achieve their best as well.
You not only respected each other, you supported each other. You embraced each other. Even if your countries are divided by conflict. ... You overcame these divisions, demonstrating that in this Olympic community, we are all equal.
We are all equal. Regardless of what we look like. Where he come from -- where we come from, or what we believe. ... The unifying power of the Olympic Games is stronger than the forces that want to divide us. You give peace a chance. ... May the political leaders around the world be inspired by your example of solidarity and peace. ... Share this Olympic spirit with all the athletes who, because of the pandemic, could not make their dream come true.
It breaks our hearts that you could not be with us. But you belong and you will ... always belong to the Olympic community If we want to finally overcome this pandemic, we must be faster. We must aim higher. We must be stronger. We must stand together.
This Olympic spirit of solidarity, we call on the international community. Give equal access to vaccines to everybody around the world.
By Andrew Mcgarry
It's time for the speeches, with IOC president Thomas Bach, and first the president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympics and Paralympics, Cai Qi.
By Andrew Mcgarry
As you might expect with Italy, it's a stylish presentation
The music and movement and vision are stunning.
We have a Tron-like effect on the LED, as the pas de deux represents a dance of harmony, or a dialogue between nature and the people.
The dancers finally form the shapes of the sports of the Games, and then the outline of the 2026 emblem.
Now we have skiers flying down a mountain carrying Italian flags,there's classical music, more Italian flags, and some jets flying overhead. It's pretty epic.
Bring on 2026!!!
By Andrew Mcgarry
Milan-Cortina's presentation
Two children representing the two city hosts, roll a large version of the earth along across the ice, of the LED floor. it cracks, and the message of duality together is visible.
The message is about the fragility of the planet, and the need for people to work together, of city and mountains alike.
We are on a fast drone run intercut between cityscape and stunning snow-capped mountains.
The speed and angles here are a little conducive to giving this blogger a bit of the wobbles.
Now we have two figures, the souls of the mountain and city.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Hello Milan - Cortina!!
The 2026 Games will be the first to be hosted by two cities, so the theme for tonight’s performance is “duality, together” – the city and the mountains.
The Italian flag is raised, as a sign of the next destination for the Winter Olympics and the anthem is played.
Classically trained contemporary pop singer Malika Ayane performs the anthem, along with classical violinist Giovanni Andrea Zanon.
Malika looks to the skies as she finishes the anthem.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The Mayor of Beijing hands the flag to IOC president Thomas Bach, who waves it around in traditional fashion, and then passes it to the mayors of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The flag is now in their possession until the next Games in 2026.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The Olympic flag is lowered
It’s getting to that time of the ceremony – as the events of the Games have finished, the Olympic flag is lowered.
The children from the Malanhua’er Children’s Choir, who were featured in the opening ceremony, are back for another performance. They sing the Olympic anthem. They have a new set of clothes like the ones they wore in the opening, but in different colours.
By Andrew Mcgarry
IOC president Thomas Bach, Beijing mayor, and the mayors of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo come on stage.
The handover will take place, with the next hosts taking possession of the Olympic flag.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The Greek national flag is raised and the Greek national anthem is played
Another sign of the formal section approaching - as Greece is the home of the Olympics, the flag is raised, and a rousing orchestral version of the anthem plays in the stadium.
