The Beijing 2022 Olympics have closed. The closing ceremony, the last act of the XXIV Winter Olympic Games, at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, the Olympic stadium in the Chinese capital, with the handover to Milan-Cortina for the Winter Olympics of 2026.
It was the blue Francesca Lollobrigida who brought the Tricolore. The speed skating champion, Olympic silver in the 3000 meters individual speed skating and bronze in the women’s mass start, represented the blue expedition holding the flag of Italy.
The IOC president Thomas Bach received the Olympic flag from the mayor of Beijing and handed it over to the mayors of Milan-Cortina 2026, Giuseppe Sala and Gianpietro Ghedina. After the delivery the Italian singer Malika Ayane sang the Italian national anthem.
“Thank you China. Over the past 16 days we have seen outstanding performances. Each of you has been striving to achieve the best. We are deeply touched by how you cheered on your competitors to make them reach their best too. You have not only respected each other, but supported each other, embraced even if your countries are divided by conflicts“Bach said as he began his speech at the closing ceremony.” You have overcome these divisions, proving that in this Olympic community we are all the same, no matter what we look like, what we want or what we believe. This unifying power of the Games is stronger than the forces that want to divide us. You give peace a chance. May political leaders around the world be inspired by you, ”added Bach.
“We share this Olympic spirit with all the athletes who, due to the pandemic, have not been able to realize their dream, it breaks our heart, but you will always belong to the Olympic community. If we want to finally overcome this pandemic we must aim higher, be stronger. , stay together. And in this Olympic spirit of solidarity we appeal to the international community: give equal access to vaccines to everyone in the world “, asked the IOC president.
“The Olympic spirit could only shine because the Chinese people set the scene in an excellent and safe way. The exceptional Olympic villages, the magnificent venues, the extraordinary organization. The support of the national Olympic committees, the federations was unwavering. I Deepest thanks go to the organizing committee, our partners and Chinese friends. On behalf of the best athletes in winter sports I say thank you Chinese friends. The Games were the beginning of a new era of global winter sport and congratulations China. And now I must mark the end of this unforgettable Olympic experience “.
“I declare the 24th Beijing Winter Games 2022 closed. As per tradition, I invite young people from all over the world to come together in Milan-Cortina in four years to celebrate the 25th edition of the Olympic Winter Games with all of us “, said the president of the IOC. After Bach declared the Games closed, the Olympic torch, set inside a giant snowflake, it went out and the ceremony ended with a long series of fireworks.
“From Beijing to Milan-Cortina, the baton passes to us today. An area of 22 thousand square kilometers that represents economic dynamism and preserves unique landscape beauties in the world, and which together will give life to a sporting project without equal in the history of the Olympic Games – said the president of Veneto, Luca Zaia – A dream that becomes reality, thanks to teamwork between institutions, companies, athletes who together, already in 2019 in Lausanne, started this journey by supporting and promoting the candidacy of Milan Cortina 2026. Now, that even the flag officially passes in the our hands, the countdown begins for what will be the Olympics that will make the cities dialogue with the Dolomite peaks “.