The Winter Olympics in Beijing are history, the Olympic flame has gone out. IOC President Thomas Bach concluded the XXIV Games on Sunday. At the same time, the “Youth of the World” called for the XXV Winter Games 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo/Italy.
At 9:31 p.m. local time, IOC President Thomas Bach spoke the traditional closing formula in the Olympic Stadium in the Chinese capital Beijing.
Flag bearer Margis leads the German team
For the German team, which after 109 competitions with 12 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals finished second behind Norway, bobsleigh pusher Thorsten Margis carried the flag to the sounds of “Freude schön Götterfunken”, Beethoven’s 9th symphony “Ode to joy”, to the stadium.
A ceremony arranged by the Chinese director Zhang Yimou was celebrated in the “Bird’s Nest” under the motto “Together for a shared future”. This took up the symbolism of the opening ceremony again. The changing play of light and snow continued throughout the almost 100-minute show. The mood in the stadium seemed more carefree than at the opening. As at the opening, China’s President Xi Jinping was among the grandstand guests.
Last award ceremonies
Traditionally, the last medals of the games were awarded in the stadium – for the cross-country skiers over the long distance.