BY: Michelle Liew

The Winter Olympics ceremony in China was officially closed by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.

The closing ceremony took place at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, Beijing. The Olympic flames were extinguished, marking the end of the sporting event which was held on a ‘lock-down’ basis, for the first time in history.

In his speech, Bach praised China and even thanked the people of the country for hosting the Games safely and sending a message of peace from the Olympic community.

“In the spirit of this Olympic unity, we call on the international community to give equal access to vaccines to everyone around the world. The Olympic spirit can shine so brightly, because China has managed to make the program a

success in a very good way – and safely.

“Now I have to mark the end of this unforgettable Olympic experience.” he said.

This year’s event is a closed event with a limited number of participants.

Participants were also required to take daily screening tests, wear face masks and adhere to strict protocols.

When the Winter Olympics come to an end, now the attention shifts to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.