Sochi Olympics close with breathtaking show as Russia finishes top in medals table

After two weeks of cheering, daring and record breaking, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games finally bids farewell as athletes and fans gather one final time to admire a sparkling closing ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

The closing ceremony kicked off shortly after 8 p.m., maintaining the "20:14" theme. The display was a fantastic affair in "art-house style", with spectators continuing their trip through Russian culture. Fireworks lit up the sky as a boat carrying Lyuba, Yura and Valya floated over the audience, and glittering shoals of 'fish' swarmed underneath.
As the 'fish' formed the shapes of Olympic rings, one, in the top right hand corner ironically hovered in a small bud-shape, before victoriously bursting open.
The Russian flag was brought into the arena by the Russian athletes who led their country to gold at the games. Russian President Vladimir Putin and IOC president Thomas Bach were among the crowds observing a subsequent rendition of the Russian national anthem sung by 1,000 children.

Athletes from the participating nations then marched into the arena, with Blur's 'Song 2' among the pieces played, before a hush settled upon the audience and Olympic champions prepared themselves to receive their medals on the podium.

Norway's cross-country skiers were presented with gold, silver and bronze medals for the women's 30 kilometer mass start free race, and Norway's national anthem was performed. Russian cross-country skiers were next - Aleksandr Legkov, Maksim Vylegzhanin and Ilya Chernousov also swept the podium in the men's 50 kilometers mass start race, and the Russian anthem rang through the stadium after they were presented with their medals.
Performers returned to the stage, dancing over a projected tribute to renowned artist Marc Chagall. Pianist Denis Matsuev then performed Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto no. 2" to Lyuba, Yura and Valya as 62 pianos surrounded them. Mariinsky and Bolshoi Ballet dancers flocked into the arena.
Russia's literary greats were then celebrated, being shown at their writing desks. Akhmatova, Dosteyevsky and Pushkin were among those shown. Shostakovich's Waltz no. 2 heralded a crowd of circus performers' entrance into the stadium. An impressive acrobatic display was undertaken, after which the tent and its surroundings drained into a 'black hole' in the middle of the floor.

Everyone stood as the Olympic anthem was then played.

The flag of the games was taken down, and ceremoniously passed by the Sochi mayor to his counterpart from Pyeongchang, which will host the next Winter Games in four years' time.
President of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Organizing Committee, Dmitriy Chernyshenko, and Bach took to the arena to address the audience. Chernyshenko stated that the victory of the athletes had inspired people worldwide.

Bach thanked Putin and the Russian Government and organizing committee among others

"Russia delivered all what it had promised. What took decades in other parts of the world, was achieved here in Sochi in just seven years," Bach stressed. He then declared the Winter Olympics officially closed.

The Sochi 2014 mascots - the Leopard, the Hare and the Polar Bear - drifted dreamily into the stadium as a maze of mirrors sprang up around them.

Hordes of singing children foreshadowed the coming spring, as a ship with Faberge egg-esque sails drifted overhead. Soprano Hibla Gerzmava's powerful voice resounded through the stadium.

The Polar Bear put out the Olympic flame with his breath, and the spectacular event ended with an enormous, tumultuous firework display.
Looking back at the games, Olympic officials say they were grand in terms of both scale and results. A record 88 nations competed in Sochi, which beat the previous record of 82 set at the previous Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

The athletes were also fighting for a record number of medals. Overall 98 sets of medals have been up for grabs during the Games.

No Olympics goes without breaking records. Among those set in Sochi's arenas were Olympic records set by Dutch speed skaters who achieved clean sweeps in no less than four events and medaled in every single speed skating race, men's and women's.
Along with the Dutch skaters, the Norwegian athletes were also breaking their own records. Cross-country skier Marit Bjoergen now has six Olympic golds (she won 3 in Sochi), equaling the record number of medals for a woman at the Winter Olympics, while biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen became the most medaled Olympian in the history of the Winter Games, with 13 medals. He won his 12th and 13th medal in Sochi.
Figure skating has always been considered a "young" sport as many skaters start to compete at a high level at the age of 17 or 18. However, Russia broke the 'young' record as fifteen-year-old Yulia Lipnitskaya became the country's youngest athlete to ever win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, after her splendid free skate in the team figure skating event.
After 15 fierce days of competition, where their athletes showed their skills in skiing, skating and snowboarding, Russia has topped the medal table. The host nation has won 33 medals including 13 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze. The second and the third places go to Norway (26 medals, 11 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze) and Canada (25 medals, 10 gold, 10 silver, 5 bronze).
The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach praised the organization of the Games and Russian hospitality.

"Let's ask those who criticized the Games if they are ready to change their opinion," Bach told reporters on Sunday. "I spent four nights in different Olympic villages and had an opportunity to learn the opinions of those sportsmen who are important to me. None of the athletes uttered a word of complaint to me."

Still, the Olympic spirit won't leave Sochi with the closing ceremony of XXII Winter Olympic games, because, hot on its heels, the Black Sea city will host the XI Paralympic Winter Games from March 7-16.