On Sunday night time, Chinese language President Xi Jinping and Worldwide Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach stood collectively as Beijing handed off to Milan-Cortina, web site of the 2026 Winter Video games.
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” kicked off a notably Western-flavored present with Chinese language traits as dancers with tiny, fiery snowflakes glided throughout the stadium in a ceremony that, just like the opening, was headed by Chinese language director Zhang Yimou.
Not like the primary pandemic Olympics in Tokyo final summer season, which featured all however empty seats on the opening and shutting, a modest however energetic crowd populated the seats of Beijing’s “Hen’s Nest” stadium. It felt considerably incongruous — a present bursting with colour and vitality and enthusiasm and even pleasure, the very issues that couldn’t assert themselves inside China’s COVID bubble. Members of Staff China wave flags as they stroll within the Athletes Parade throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures) A fireworks show is seen contained in the stadium alongside the Olympic rings throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures) President of China Xi Jinping waves throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong) Volunteers are honored throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson) Performers take part on the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Bernat Armangue) The cauldron holding the Olympic flame burns throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong) BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 20: Performers dance throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures) BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 20: A firework show is seen contained in the stadium alongside the Olympic rings throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures) Silver medalist Jessie Diggins, of the US, reacts on the rostrum for the ladies’s 30km mass begin free cross-country snowboarding ceremony throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong) Performers take part throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson) Flag bearers march into the stadium throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Natacha Pisarenko) Kids sing throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Natacha Pisarenko) BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 20: A Normal View of stadium as Performers dance throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by James Probability/Getty Pictures) Worldwide Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach waves throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong) Lanterns are seen within the stands throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Pictures) BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 20: The Olympic rings are seen alongside the flags of the competing nations throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Pictures) Athletes from China march into the stadium throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong) BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 20: Kids representing Milan and Cortina hug a globe as a part of the handover ceremony throughout the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing Nationwide Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Picture by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures) Performers take part throughout the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson)
