Winter fairy tale: remembering the closing ceremony of the Sochi Olympics

Winter fairy tale: remembering the closing ceremony of the Sochi Olympics

Hot. Winter. Unforgettable.

Four years ago, the Olympic flame went out at Sochi’s Fisht Stadium. The XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi ended with an unqualified victory of Russian athletes. On February 23, 2014, the closing ceremony of the Olympics took place. We recall the main moments of the celebration in our selection.

The ceremony began at 20:14 Moscow time. On the arena appeared LED forest and a boat with three children floating on the endless expanse. Then artists in silver costumes came on stage. Being in constant motion, they portrayed various figures. In the end, the artists lined up in such a way that the audience saw five Olympic rings on the arena. At the same time, one of the rings “opened” not immediately, just like at the opening ceremony – the organizers showed that they are no stranger to self-irony.

Along with the raising of the Russian flag, the anthem of the Russian Federation was played at the stadium.

Watch the video on the official Olympic channel on YouTube.

Drummers – cadets of the Suvorov Military School – appeared on the arena. Then began the parade of athletes, who marched in a single stream, symbolizing friendship around the world.

Watch the video on the official Olympic channel on YouTube.

After the parade of athletes, the awarding ceremony began for the skiers who won the last sets of awards. In the women’s marathon race Norwegians – Marit Bjoergen, Therese Johaug, Kristin Steira – took the podium; in the men’s 50-kilometer race athletes from Russia triumphed – Alexander Legkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Ilya Chernousov took first, second and third places respectively.

In the artistic part of the closing ceremony the organizers and performers tried to convey the greatness of Russian art: painting, music, ballet, literature, circus art.

After the official part, where IOC President Thomas Bach expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Olympics, the mascots of the Games in Sochi – White Bear, Bunny and Leopard – appeared at Fisht Stadium. Then the leopard blew out the Olympic flame.

Watch the video on the official Olympic channel on YouTube.

The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi ended with a festive salute.

Konstantin Ernst, the author of the script for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, said: “We wanted to show the Russia of today and tomorrow. Most people in the world did not expect such a high-tech show from us.” The Sochi Olympics really went off without a hitch and remained in the memory of the spectators and participants of this sporting event for a long time.