Closing Ceremony Winter Olympics

Here in Sochi it is the final day of these Winter Olympics. We are

building towards the closing ceremony, which will start in around

15 minutes' time. We were discussing the misfortunes of Elise Christie.

She and her fellow short track speed skaters are here. They are going to

be in the closing ceremony. We have a gathering of Team GB athletes. How

are we feeling, all good? Yes. You sound enthusiastic. Johnny, can you

suggest up what you've been through over the past three weeks? It's been

a great three weeks. I've been part of a fantastic team and the medal

table shows we've done well. What do you want to say to the people back

home who've supported you? Thank you so much and it has inspired us to do

great things. Jack, come in here. I love that bobble hat. You've been

through all sorts, given to what's happened to you and Ellise. Ups and

downs but we are still part of one of the best winter GB teams. All

positive in the end. It's been a great vibe in the Team GB house

hasn't it? Epic. We went through Moscow. Out here in Russia's been

one of the best Games we'll probably go to. You've been getting a lot of

support on social media and what's happened to your girlfriend Elise

Christie. What do you want to say? Thank you, and maybe you can be one

of the people here in future. The more athletes we get here the bigger

the Games will get. Well said. Ellise, I have to say, after the

last interview with you, a number of tweets are saying that everybody

back home is thinking of you. What do you want to say to the people of

the United Kingdom who are watching tonight? Obviously I'm really

thankful to everyone. I said I would never have made it back on the ice

without their support, never mind skating the way I did. They've been

amazing and lifted everyone's spirits, so it is a good sport for

everyone. Are you looking forward to going back home? Yes. Guys, thank

you. Congratulations. Well done, guys.

Great to see them in such good spirits. Elise Christie in the midst

of them. She came down the the restaurant to say well done to the

cullers, the short-track speed skaters and the ice skate all give

each other close support. It must help having her boyfriend on the

team. A absolutely. A tremendous family of feeling, the whole Team GB

have. It is nice to see. She was only 19 in Vancouver, she's 23 now.

What's the prime age for a short-track speed skater? When I was

successful I was 23. Ellise skates quicker than I did back in 1988.

That's some impression how much the sport has progressed. I think

nowadays, the more experience you have, the better. Going into the

third Olympic Games for her, like Jon Eley - it will be a much bigger

boost for her to come home with more than zero medals. That would be a

story. From the 23-year-old to the 25-year-old Olympic champion, Lizzy

Yarnold. It is a sport she only took up recently. My word, she is

impressive. This has been my goal since I was a kid. You always feel

nervous before you compete in the skeleton. It account be quite

dangerous, but it is that thrill and adrenaline that I really love. You

walk to the start block and you have to be focused and yet exhilarated

and ready to produce a lot of power and sprint fast. Elizabeth Yarnold

of Great Britain going for Olympic gold. She's powered it off. That is

brilliant. This competition has got off to a blistering start. I just

hope she can keep calm. I slept unbelievably well. Although the

pressure was there to perform, I said, you are in control of your own

destiny, you can do this. Away she goes. It is the fastest start so

far. That's a magnificent speed. It is a track record. You couldn't ask

for anything more. I needed to experience this as a family. I'm so

grateful to them. She's in the lead by a big margin. She's down! She's

in control. My goodness, that was a horrible slide. Come on, Lizzie,

keep it together, keep calm. Go on, Lizzie! She's going to win the gold

medal, surely. She's going to do it! Lizzy Yarnold is the Olympic

champion... Oh, my goodness! I got tears in my eyes here, I passed over

my Olympic crown. It was the most exciting and terrifying moment of

the whole of my life. Amazing. I'm so chuffed I'm the Olympic champion.

Lizzie has got very important responsibilities tonight, because

following in the footsteps of Amy Williams and Shelley Rudman eight

years ago she's going to be carrying the flag in front of Team GB. Jason

Mohammed caught up with her. So the athletes are gathering and

here she is, the golden girl, Lizzy Yarnold. How are you? I'm very well

thank you, I'm a bit nervous about carrying the flag, but it is such an

honour. It's been the best Games, the best few weeks of my life. I

can't wait the fly the flag for Team GB. Everybody athlete I've spoken to

has spoken of this beautiful relationship that you've all forged

in the coast and the mountains. Yes, I've made a lot of friends, which I

didn't expect. We come from such different backgrounds and cultures

within sport, but when you get down to it, the nitty-gritty of people as

athletes, we are very similar. We are just there to strive to do our

best and represent our country. It has been a really good experience.

We are one group of people. We are very proud of each other. Tonight

we'll represent that and we'll have a great party at the closing

ceremony. I've been watching lots of Russian television. I'm not exposed

to British television. You've been home already. What was that like? It

was fantastic actually. I didn't expect how well I was received. I

didn't realise so many people would be watching the event. It's a

minority sport, the skeleton, but people get behind Team GB. They know

how hard athletes work from London and the Olympics and the Paralympics

and there is a great respect for the athletes. We need the British

public. They really motivate us, give us extra support to give the

competition all of us. What are your hopes and aspirations for winter

sports in the UK given your success and Team GB's success? Is I think

for the Sochi Olympics it was a great addition having the slopestyle

sport. There seems to be new possibilities to add to the events.

I think more and more people are learning that you can get involved

in the sports, that you can be just a normal person from Kent, like I

am. I'm a very determined person and if you commit and never give up, you

can get to an Olympics and possibly win. Lizzy Yarnold, we are so proud

of you. On behalf of the nation, through. Let's high five Enjoy

tonight. God bless. I will, thank you. She speaks so well. I know she

is making it her mission to travel around schools and talk to pupils

about her experiences, and she embraces the whole event. She does.

It is the important thing being here and being in an Olympics had, you

get to support all your other team members and watch sports you've

never watched before. Up until your event and your training, once your

event is over, get out there and watch ate. She watched some events

and then got home, appeared on the Jonathan Ross Show with Jenny Jones,

and back here to do the job. The closing ceremony is shortly upon us

and it brings to an end an extraordinary 16 days of action.

Unbelievable to think all of this has happened in the last 16 days.

Holds on to gold. He makes history. A clean sweep by the Dutch...

Germany has won everything so far. Russia has a new superstar. She wins

Olympic slalom title at 18. She's done it. A piece of history that

will never be forgotten. The brushes go in the air and Britain wins gold

medal. It is gold again for the Iron Lady of Norway. Well done, really

well done. He becomes the great test winter Olympian in history. Speed,

precision, power, records set, new names coming to the fore. Old

champions celebrated and now all of those athletes are gathered here in

Olympic Park for the closing ceremony. To guide us through it, we

have a man who has been to so many of these as an athlete, four times

gold medallist Matthew Pinsent. And Hazel Irvine.

Good evening. The skating, the skiing is, the skiing has come to an

end in Sochi. The warm's Games we've ever known. The final medals will be

presented this evening. What send-off are we going to have

tonight? We have moments of grandeur in the opening ceremony, which was

well received apart from that pesky snowflake. Tonight they've decided

to portray their culture by letting an Italian do it. Daniele Finzi

Pasca love as ceremony. He did Turin's ceremony. We were treated to

opera, ballet, class wall works, the equivalent of champagne and caviar.

After 16 days of competition the athletes might be more in the mood

for a burger. What do athletes crave at this point in proceedingses Matt?

A party, just to relax. After two weeks of the Games, years of

training the, they just want to feel there are no constraints now, we can

relax and enjoy and celebrate their achievements at being Olympians. A

lot of them will have done as well as they possibly could. Some will be

disappointed but tonight they want a party. Let's see what we've got. I

think we are going to be Kate carrying for all tastes. The closing

ceremony is is under way. To the strains of Modest

Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, we look back at some of

the images that will forever frame our memories of Sochi's Games.

HAZEL IRVINE: The stunning Fisht Olympic Stadium erupts in fireworks

and that will be the first of many this evening. Here inside, we have a

forest of lights suspended from the roof of the stadium. 204 poles. That

is the source of a beautiful light show.

A rowing boat appears floating in the night sky. It is an image the

parents of small children under five will dread.

Our heroine from the opening ceremony is back. This time, she has

company. Those are her little mates, Yuri and Valentina, named after Yuri

Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, the first man and woman in space. So

you get the idea that there is going to be a lot of cross-referencing

going on here. It is a bit like Lord of the Rings parts two and three!

MATTHEW PINSENT: I can't critique the rowing technique. Once a rower,

always a rower! He is not going to win a gold, is

he? The sea, another constant theme in

these Opening and Closing Ceremonies. We are by the Black Sea

which forms a border for Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and

Romania. That's a human bait ball beneath the

That's a human bait ball beneath sequins.

That's a human bait ball beneath little bow swirling around in

That's a human bait ball beneath of them aged between 6 and 43. They

have The music from the Hollywood

favourite "It's A Wonderful Life." The theme music was composed by

Dimitri Tiomkin who was Russian! LAUGHTER

Very good! Will it work? Will it work?

Of course it'll work! That is a very, very nice touch. Very clever.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir

Putin, and the President of the International Olympic Committee,

Thomas Bach, Olympic Champion Fencing 1976.

President Putin has 13 golds to celebrate. But not the men's ice

hockey. It was won this afternoon by Canada. They have finished top of

the medals table, the Russians. Very well deserved indeed. Thomas Bach,

his first Games in charge of the IOC. He's certainly not been afraid

of making strong statements. The national flag of the Russian

Federation is carried by the Russian champions at the Sochi 2014 Winter

Olympic Games. This is a Victory Parade in effect

for the country that topped the medal table for the first time for

20 years. It equals the Soviet Union's best, actually, of 13

medals. A long time ago at the Games of '76.

So many of their great champions. There is Victor An who won three

gold medals in the short-track speed-skating to take his personal

tally to six. He's now a Russian citizen. They made home ice count,

did the Russians, especially at the Sliding Centre. They won three

golds, two silver and one bronze at the Sliding Centre.

We also have one-half of the pairs gold medal-winning double act. The

pairs skater won gold in the team event and the darling of the Russian

team, the 15-year-old who took the gold as part of that team event.

They won three out of the five of the figure skating golds.

So much celebration for the Russians and you really feel that the whole

nation has embraced it. The Sliding Centre became a Russian playground

for them. They used home field advantage, just as we did in London,

and they used it brilliantly here. We will now hear the voices of 1,000

children from the Pan-Russian Choir under the stewardship of the

conductor, Valery Gergiev. Please stand for the National Anthem of the

Russian Federation. Performed by the Children's Choir of Russia,

conducted by Valery Gergiev and the he Pan-Russian Youth Symphonic

Orchestra. # Russia - our sacred homeland.

# Russia - our beloved country. # A mighty will, great glory.

# These are your heritage for all time!

# Be glorious, our free Motherland, Age-old union of fraternal peoples.

# Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!

# Be glorious, our country! # We are proud of you!

# From the southern seas to the polar lands.

# Spread are our forests and fields. # You are unique in the world, one

of a kind. # This native land protected by God!

# Be glorious, our free Motherland, Age-old union of fraternal peoples.

# Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!

# Be glorious, our country! # We are proud of you!

# Wide spaces for dreams and for living.

# Are opened for us by the coming years.

# Our loyalty to the Motherland gives us strength.

# Thus it was, thus it is and thus it always will be!

# Be glorious, our free Motherland, Age-old union of fraternal peoples.

# Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!

# Be glorious, our country! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Russia's gold medallists celebrate next to their flag and in the VIP

seats Aleksandr Zhukov has a grandstand view next to Vladimir

Putin, sitting to his left, the man who piloted the Russian two-man and

the four-man bob. He's a national hero now. He drove brilliantly. He

was flawless. Unfortunately from a British point of view with a

four-man he was unbeatable. It was the President who persuaded him to

come out of retirement in the first place to get back into the bob.

At a ceremony everybody loves a marching band and drummers. It might

have something to do with the legacy of Beijing in 2008. These boys have

got a bit of rhythm as well haven't they?

CHEERING We were rather hoping it would be

the Russian Interior Ministry police band singing some Daft Punk, but it

wasn't to be. However, they were good substitutes. Not as many

moustaches however. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the flags

of the delegations of the Sochi 2014 won't Games. Two weeks ago they

emerged from the same trap door. Now the athletes chosen to carry their

nation's flags. 88 nations, a record for the Winter Olympics, and here

they come! We will look very closely for the Union Flag. And we will look

to see Lizzy Yarnold, the third skeleton athlete inta row to carry

the flag in the ceremony, after Amy Williams. There she is bottom of the

screen, on the left-hand side. Come on, Lizzie, give it your all.

She won by a huge margin of victory did Lizzie. There she goes on the

left. Maths has never been my strong point but I'm told her 0. 9

second... Her finishing round 34 metres ahead of the second-placed

athlete from America, not even Usain Bolt can manage that. She was

dominant. Four brilliant runs. I'm so pleased for her to be given this

honour to carry the flag back into the Fisht stadium. Brilliant for

her. I think appropriately to the tune of There's No Limit. That's the

theme of Team GB. The director has talked about this being a turning

point for Britain. The belief is there, the preparation is there and

now the results are there as well. I don't think there is any reason why

we shouldn't compete. Skeleton has has been brilliant, the quality is

there. Some 2,856 athletes came to Sochi. Many have stayed to enjoy the

party tonight. As is now tradition, they will come in and mix together.

That's something that's been done since the 1956 Summer Games in

Melbourne. Apparently it was the suggestion of an Aussie schoolboy

who wrote to the IOC, who said it would be a fitting symbol of unity

if everybody assembled together. What a bonzer idea it turned out to

be. The curlers and the bobsleighers. Here come the Dutch.

I'm kind of half guessing they might be speed skaters. The Dutch have

been absolutely unbelievable in the Adler Arena. I think they should

paint it orange and be done with it. Eight out of 12 goals and 23 out of

32 medals in long track. -- eight out of 12 golds. To the sound of

Boney M, no party is complete without Boney M. You're showing your

age now Hazel. I'm wait g for Rasputin any minute. Oh, yes. Boney

M were one of the few western acts to tour the Soviet Union, along with

Elton John. Rasputin was not released in the Soviet Union, do you

to the lyrics. Keep digging, Irvine. Here come the Italians. No golds

this time. That was a bit of a surprise. They hosted the Games only

eight years ago but no golden variety to take home. Canadians have

had a great Games. Double curling gold. Men's and women's ice hockey,

ten golds in total and 14 last time. That was a record for home Games for

any nation. That's not a bad return for the next one after is it? Sir

Craig Reedie is looking on. And Jean-Claude Killy, the IOC medal.

His three gold medals from 1948. He was within two inches of a third

gold medal up at the cross-country centre. He was beaten by Norway. At

this point Matt when you are coming in and you've completed your event

and you are wearing your medal, can you describe what it is like? You

don't wear your medal, definitely no. You've got other plans. You want

to come in and see the show, be completely relaxed, hang out with

some of the other members of the British team. And there's the

Americans, nine golds this time, the same as in Vancouver, but it hasn't

rained medals for them. 28 this time, 37 last, but some of their

alpine star, the youngest slalom champion ever. That was one of the

most dominant displays we've seen, wonderful skiing. His first run was

extraordinary. He had the luxury in the second run to pick his way

through. Interestingly the only gold not on snow for the United States

this time was in figure skating. They upgraded their Vancouver silver

to Sochi gold. President Obama owes the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen

Harper, two crates of beer after two defeats for the nation in ice

hockey. Sometimes athletes stay on the field of play in the middle.

This time they are going into the stands. They are being asked to sit

down, so they are going to use the main part of the stadium for more

set pieces. I think the plan is they get them all in, they've scheduled a

good 15 minutes for this. They are going to be fed some culture, as are

we, before being allowed to really let their hair down at the end.

Members of team Russia there. Some of these athletes will be watching

at home. I know Jenny Jones is watching at home. And Chemmy Alcott.

She's been a fantastic alambassador for British alpine sport. Her fourth

Games. Chemmy, we wish you well. It's been a please your working with

you over the last few years. The flags are fluttering in an inside

stadium, that's a trick I think they used in Beijing for the first time.

They put blowers under flagpoles and jets on the top, to get them to

stand out straight. They have been racing for the last

two weeks so no-one is in any hurry. Some of the big winners here,

Belarus. Darya Domracheva won three of those golds.

The cries of "Russia" ring out around this big stadium. I can see

Lizzy melting into the group. That is about as official as the flag

bearer at the Closing Ceremony gets. Indeed. As for the other big winners

and losers, you have to be thinking about Norway. Norway bidding for the

2022 Games. Many people would love to see it go back to the heartland

of winter sport. They, once again, a nation of five million people, they

have won 11 gold medals. Along with Russia, they are the powerhouses of

winter sport at the moment. Much more relaxed feel now. The work

is done. What have been the successes of

Sochi's Games in a sporting sense? I think the venues have been

wonderful. The athletes have been really happy with the experience.

The Villages - there were three of them - they have been very well

received. The athletes' experience has been good. That is a benchmark,

for me, of a host city. The Olympic experience has to be worth it if you

only come to one. Some of us are lucky to go to two or more. If you

get a chance to go to one, it has to be magical. Sochi has done that for

the athletes who are here. From what you have seen of the crowds and the

response from the Russian people, how's that been? The people who is

been here have loved it. I don't think many of the venues have been

rammed full. I don't think people are too worried about that. The

atmosphere has been good. For a winter city, it's been a really good

Games. The Russian crowds have been very generous. Jeremy Abbott had a

horrible fall and was cheered and clapped all the way through his

routine. He was really touched. It was a Derek Redmond moment! There

have been lots of injuries for some of those extreme events. We saw some

horrendous injuries and some sort of walking wounded. It's been - as you

say, the attitude of the crowd has always been positive in that

situation. It's been a surprise to me that so many athletes have come

away injured. Those that are coming, they all

appear to be present and correct. We are ushing them into their seats. --

ushering them into their seats. There is Viktor Ahn again. He's dyed

his hair. What a story. I wonder how he will be received next time. If he

goes to PyeongChang, the man who was a great hero in his native South

Korea. He changed his nationality. Wasn't pleased with the way things

had gone under their system and decided he would race for Russia

with incredible results. He is the first man ever to win golds in every

single event available to him and he now has a total of six golds, this

young man. Now, no nations, no boundaries to be

seen, just one world, one globe spinning around.

Ladies and gentlemen, the victory ceremonies for the cross-country

skiing free mass start. Well, 98 sets of medals have been won, but

only 96 sets have been presented. Our unfinished business concludes

now. For the first time ever, it's usually the men's 50km cross-country

skiing that is rewarded, but the women's 30km cross-country skiing

will also be presented this time. There are the athletes. Both events,

a clean sweep - one for Norway and one for Russia. The victory ceremony

for the women's 30km cross-country skiing. 18.5 miles of racing took

place yesterday. I am sure these ladies have just about recovered.

The medals will be presented by the President of the International

Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, Olympic Champion Fencing 1976,

accompanied by the President of the International Ski Federation.

No surprise that every one of Norway's gold medals came on skis.

Skiing, in all forms, the national obsession in Norway. The most

successful nation in the history of the Winter Games.

Representing Norway, Kristin Steira. This is the start of one of eight

clean sweeps at these Games. Never happened before. Kristin Steira

receiving her bronze medal from the IOC President.

The President of the Skiing Federation. I would have liked him

to give away the ski jumping medals. That was the women's first event in

ski jumping here. I didn't see him that night. Silver medallist,

representing Norway, Therese Johaug. Therese Johaug had been tipped for

the gold in this one. She is the World Champion in this event. She

seems happy enough, though. Just missed out by five seconds

yesterday. In an hour and 15 of racing! The Norwegians weren't happy

with the progress of their cross-country skiers early on. There

had been a debate about whether they had prepared at too low an altitude

for these Games, but it all came right and what a storming finish

they had to the programme yesterday. Gold medallist and Olympic Champion,

representing Norway, Marit Bjoergen. How appropriate we should see this

medal presented to Marit Bjoergen. The Iron Lady, they call her. It is

her third gold of the Games, her sixth in total. She equals the tally

of two Russians. If it is a farewell for the 33-year-old, this would be

an appropriate send-off, unless the lady is for turning! I watched her

first gold medal. She's been dominant but, for me, she spent so

much time doing all the interviews with all the cameras. She was so

lovely. There was no need for it to be obligatory. A class act. Please

stand for the National Anthem of Norway.

Congratulations for the Iron Lady, Marit Bjoergen. Ladies and

gentlemen, the Olympic medallists. Oslo have ambitions of staging these

Games in 2022. 1952 they staged the Winter Games for the first time. I

think with such a ski-mad nation, many would love to see it go back.

There might be a feeling after Sochi and Korea to bring it back to the

European stronghold again. This is going to be a popular moment, I

suspect(!) Ladies and gentlemen, the victory

ceremony for the men's 50km cross-country skiing.

It is gruelling, it is lung busting and it has made all the tougher in

balmy conditions of the last few days.

Bronze medallists representing the Russian Federation.

CHEERING That was a late charge. A photo finish for the silver medal.

But he's part of a team that's made history today.

It is the first time in the 78 years that this gruelling ski marathon has

been stageded that we've had a clean sweep from one nation and it is

Russia who've done it. Silver medallists representing the

Russian Federation. CHEERING

By two tenths of a second. That was the difference between second and

third place. He played such a crucial role in the silver won by

the relay earlier in the Games. It was a gutsy performance then and a

really gutsy performance today. Gold medallist and Olympic champion

representing the Russian Federation. CHEERING what a roar! The man who

turned down the opportunity to carry his flag for his country at the

opening ceremony. He didn't want to leave his training and didn't want

to come down from altitude too soon in order to completely prepare for

this race. He said today, this is priceless, it is more valuable than

I can explain. I can't express how I feel. For 15 years I've been trying

to win this thing. The gamble paid off. What a moment. In front of your

home crowd at the closing ceremony, a gold medal. That's got to be very

special. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand

for the anthem of the Russian Federation. We are going to hear it

again. NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE RUSSIAN

FEDERATION CHEERING

I thought he was going to shed a tear there. Very well deserved. What

a moment. Even more special, the closing ceremony, in front of 40,000

people in your home Olympics. It is the kind of fairy-tale that

the Canadians experienced on their last day as well, with the men's ice

hockey. What a fitting the climax to Russia's Games that they should win

the last of the events. Up the mountain anyway. And the familiar

pattern of Sochi's colours on all of the uniforms of the volunteers, now

on the stadium floor. A patchwork representing all the different

communities from around Russia. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

the newly elected members of the International Olympic Committee and

its athletes' commission. The athletes commission of course

something Matt that you were part of? I was, for two years, yes. These

guys have been elected at an athlete election in all the villages. The

athletes cast their vote. And 80% of the athletes here turned out to vote

for these representatives and they could not have chosen better. That

doesn't do her justice. She has now won four golds in a row for the

Canadian ice hockey team. And she plays softball. She carried the

Canadian flag into the stadium at the opening and now officially the

greatest of them all. His biathlete gold was his 8th gold and he has

overtaken had record of his fellow countryman. What a perfect day

Wednesday was for him. They will have eight years on that commission.

What will they do? It is one of the things that Jacques Rogge brought

in. There are four that go on each edition of the Winter Games. They

will discuss all sorts of things. Transport, the village, food. On and

on it goes. Making sure that the athletes are properly represented at

the IOC. And now we are honouring the 25,000 volunteers who have

cheered everyone along here. This is the first time a massed volunteering

programme has ever been achieved in Russia. On behalf of all athletes,

the newly elected members of the IOC will present flowers of appreciation

to the volunteer representatives of Sochi 2014 to thank them for their

contribution. We've got a British athlete member, Adam Pengilly, who

was voted on four years ago. He will come off the commission in 2018. He

might be looking for a British winter Olympian to stand for that

position in Korea. I think we would like to echo the sentiments out

there. Most of these volunteers, in fact every one of them, have been

eager, keen to smile, desperate to practise their English. They've been

representative of most of the people here, who have been very generous

and very warm. A They've been brilliant, like every Olympic

volunteer group, it takes them two or three days to get settled and

then they get into it. They've been great. In Vancouver at this stage

four years ago we had a self-satirising Saab lieu of moose,

huge table hockey players and Michael Buble. It is not quite the

tone our hosts are hoping to strike now.

The stage is being transformed into a scene from the fantasy world of a

Mark Chagall painting. The Russian-born artist who once said he

saw his work not as the dream of one people but of all humanity.

Something thetive. OC -- something the IOC recognises. The soloist is

Yuri Bashmet. The music is the polka by Alfred

Schnittke. Echoes of the opening ceremony again. One of his works was

played there to great effect. So the painting appears. Mark

Chagall worked in virtually every medium, paintings, ceramics and

stained glass. He designed the stained glass windows of a church

near Tunbridge Wells. Get inspired? It is not just about snowboarding

you know. And now from Russian art to Russian

music. One of the best-loved pieces of music from anywhere any time.

Rachmaninov number 2. MUSIC: "Piano Concerto No 2"

By Rachmaninoff HAZEL IRVINE: That has to be gold!

Denis Matsuev had 260 wannabes out there with him. This is like the

best bits from Russia's Now That's What I Call Classical Music! A

chandelier lowers from the roof. A bit of music by Nikolai

Rimsky-Korsakov. Two stages have appeared. On the left in red and

gold representing the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. On the right, the

blue and gold, the Mariinsky Theatre.

MUSIC: "Scheherazade" By Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Just coming into view, that's Sergei Diaghilev - or a representation of

him. He founded the Ballets Russes in Paris. We are getting a potted

version of many of their productions - Golden Slave, Zobeida and the

Dying Swan are all in there tonight. MUSIC: "Scheherazade"

By Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov The staging on an epic scale inside

the Fisht Olympic Stadium. A giant chandelier as the stages float off.

I'm sure the figure skaters will be lapping this up. I wonder what the

ski-cross racers are making of it all, Matt. They want to have a dance

themselves! A giant library appears now and the children are ushered

into it and asked to take a look at the works of 12 of Russia's greatest

writers and poets who are busy at their desks.

We had some of Tolstoy's best bits in the Opening Ceremony. Now we

reference works of Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Gogol, Pushkin,

Solzhenitsyn, Tsvetaeva and Turgenev. They were all Russian, you

know! We are hearing Aram Khachaturian's

Waltz in the background. MUSIC: "Waltz"

By Aram Khachaturian The papers are swept into a vortex

to be read and enjoyed all around the world.

The only question is - who is going to clear all of it up? They are not

going to tell us they invented the vacuum cleaner as well, are they?

Now, for something completely different. Just as fundamental to

Russia's glories of the past - this country has a circus culture like no

other. I'm sure the Moscow State Circus was appearing near you over

the holiday period. Circus has been around since the time of Catherine

the Great. We began to see the Russian travelling circuses outside

and at its height here, there were about 70 permanent circus buildings

and 50 travelling circuses all around the country. They love a big

top here and the performance as begun.

MUSIC: "Suite for Variety Orchestra" By Dmitri Shostakovich

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The big top disappears in all of 20

seconds, but look out for it again on a village green near you soon.

The message is inspired a generation just as it was in 2012. Matt, the

facilities here will certainly do that, as will the performances. That

will be the test in Sochi and for Russia, how they use these

facilities. Sliding downhill, down in the city these venues are

amazing. What will they be like in a decade? Once again we acknowledge

the roots of the Olympic Games here, the birthplace of the ancient Games.

CHEERING The Greek flag flies alongside the

Russian and indeed the Olympic flag. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain

standing for the Olympic anthem. But now it is time to lower the

Olympic flag, the flag designed by Pierre de Coubertin exactly 100

years ago. APPLAUSE

And the flag carried by the next generation of young Russians as it

starts its journey to our new hosts, PyeongChang in 2018, in the Republic

of Korea. And it indeed is time for the

handover of that flag. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach,

Olympic champion fencing 1976, accompanied by the Mayor of Sochi,

Aleksandr Pakhomov, and the Mayor of PyeongChang, Seok-rae Lee, for the

Olympic flag handover ceremony. This is a proud moment, because for

only the third time the Winter Games are heading for Asia. It first went

to Sapporo and after two failed bids, PyeongChang has won. That's

where we are heading in four years' time. The flag is handed to the

Mayor of Sochi, who hands it to Thomas Bach, who presents it to

Seok-rae Lee, the Mayor of PyeongChang. They each get to wave

it a stipulated number of times. I don't know why I know that. I think

it might be four. I can never watch this moment without thinking of

Boris Johnson doing it in danger. He did.

He's just done another couple for good luck. Unauthorised. Ladies and

gentlemen, please stand for the national anthem of the Republic of

Korea. NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF

KOREA CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Aegukga, the

national anthem of the Republic of Korea, and, as always, the next host

city will give us just a taste of what awaits us in four years' time.

The city of PyeongChang is about 100 miles east of the capital city,

Seoul, in the mountain. We are about to see what they call the awakening

The city of Seoul was our host for the Summer Games of 1988. As their

head of their bid said, 30 years ago, the world saw a developing

country. One generation the world will see a truly developed Korea

through these Games. They say that their bid and Games

are going to cost around about ?7 billion as opposed to the ?30

billion that was spent here in Russia. So evidence of perhaps a

downsizing, a scaling back? One of the things they are promising is the

geography will be close together, like we have enjoyed in Sochi. You

will be able to do a mountain venue and a city venue in the same day.

That is something that has been brilliant here. We are told there

will be a coastal cluster and a mountain cluster. Clusters are the

way forward in winter sport! Some of the venue plans they've got,

enormous spectator numbers. The Sliding Centre, they are talking

about 11,000 spectators in there. Alpine skiing, 12,000. Ski and

snowboarding, 14,000. If they fill those, it will be amazing. I hope

they have bR ganed for a lot of seats at the short-track

speed-skating arena. That will be the hottest ticket in town in four

years. -- bargained for a lot of seats at the short-track

speed-skating arena. We are listening to an instrument that

represents each month of the year. A representation of cranes,

Happily, it symbolising eternal

HAZEL IRVINE: With a time zone that is plus nine ahead of us,

PyeongChang's Olympics will mean some early starts, or some very

late-nights for all of us. Depending on where we are watching it. We are

joined in the presentation party by many of the Korean athletes who have

competed here over the last 16 days. They have won three golds, a little

down on their number from Vancouver - they had six there. Two golds in

the short-track. They have watched their former Korean team-mate Viktor

Ahn win three for Russia. There is still a stewards' enquiry,

potentially, into the silver in the figure skating, apparently. There is

a letter in the post to the International Skating Federation.

MATTHEW PINSENT: We are not the only ones to be thinking about judging

and, "Oh, that's unfair. Why isn't there an investigation?" It has been

a source of controversy. We may not have heard the last of that.

APPLAUSE 1,447 days until the opening

ceremony of the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang on 9th February

2018. Matt, you recognise many of those

emotions, I'm sure? I think it's been a wonderful Games for that, as

ever. The Olympics brings out some amazing highs - and we go through

the lows as well. Sochi has provided that drama and those ups and downs

brilliantly as well. It is time for some closing marks from the boss.

Please welcome the President, Dmitry Cherniskenko, and the President of

the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.

TRANSLATION: Dear friends, today's Russia first-ever Olympic Games are

drawing to a close in Sochi. Russia has delivered on its promise.

APPLAUSE Our Games were incredibly hot with

the intensity of your passion. APPLAUSE

They were truly cool and they belong to each of you! Thank you to the

athletes. 98 sets of awards were won in honest and dazzling competition.

Your victories inspired people all over the world. Fans, thank you for

your support. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

You are what made the atmosphere of the Games unforgettable. Thank you

to everyone who organised the tremendous celebration.

APPLAUSE We've proven that we can take on any

challenge. Thank you to the people who took care of your safety. You

showed how effective yet unnoticed your work can be.

APPLAUSE Thank you to those who ran the

competitions, cooked, drove vehicles and worked in the hotels and

hospitals. APPLAUSE

Thank you to our volunteers! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

They were cheerful, positive and always ready to help out. We are all

wanting the Sochi 2014 Team. Thank you to the International Olympic

Committee. Your help and dedication made these Games a success.

APPLAUSE It is a great moment in our history. A moment to cherish and

pass on to the next generation. A moment which will never be

forgotten. CHEERING This is the new face of

Russia, our Russia. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE And, for us,

these Games are the best ever! CHEERING

TRANSLATION: We did it! We conquered the Olympic summit and these Games

will be with us forever. Olympic, cool, ours.

CHEERING And now I have the honour to invite the President of the

International Olympic Committee back to deliver his speech. Genuine pride

showing through. Many in Russia will see this was a water-shed moment.

TRANSLATION: Thank you very much, Sochi, thank you very much Russia!

Mr President of the Russian Federation, Good evening dear

Olympic friends and friends around the world.

CHEERING Thank you very much dear Olympic athletes.

CHEERING You have inspired us for the last magnificent 17 days.

CHEERING You have excelled in your competitions. You have shared your

emotions with us and the whole world.

CHEERING You have celebrated victory with dignity. And accepted defeat

with dignity. CHEERING By live g under one roof in

the Olympic Village, you sent a powerful message from Sochi to the

world. The message of a society of peace, tolerance and respect.

CHEERING I appeal to everybody implicated in confrontation,

oppression or violence. Act on this Olympic message of dialogue and

peace. CHEERING We all have enjoyed

exceptional conditions in these Olympic Winter Games. Our Russian

hosts had promise excellent sports venue, outstanding Olympic Villages,

and an impeccable organisation. Tonight...

CHEERING Tonight, we can say, Russia delivered all what it had promised.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What took decades in our parts of the world

was achieved here in Sochi in just seven years.

CHEERING I would like to thank the President of the Russian Federation,

Mr Vladimir Putin. CHEERING For his personal commitment

to the extraordinary success of these Olympic Winter Games.

CHEERING The Russian Government, the Organising Committee, the Russian

Olympic Committee, the IOC members in Russia, and all the people of

Sochi and Russia deserve our deep gratitude.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE TRANSLATION: To the success the

international Olympic winter sports fed races, the national Olympic

committees, the sponsors and broadcasters have greatly

contributed. I'm sure they will all remember these Olympic days in

Sochi. And come back to create a great sport legacy.

CHEERING TRANSLATION: Thank you very much to

the volunteers. CHEERING You volunteers with your

warm smile made the sun shine for us every day.

CHEERING Your wonderful engagement will create the legacy of a strong

civil society in Russia. CHEERING Through you, through you

everybody with an open mind could see the face of a new Russia.

CHEERING Efficient and friendly. Patriotic and open to the world.

CHEERING All our partners and friends allowed the world's best

athletes to give their best. There is no higher compliment than to say

on behalf of all participants and on behalf of all my fellow Olympic

athletes. CHEERING These were the athletes'

Games. CHEERING We arrived with great

respect for the rich and varied history of Russia.

CHEERING We leave as friends of the Russian people.

CHEERING And now I declare the XXII Olympic

Winter Games closed. CHEERING In accordance with

tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years

from now in PyeongChang to celebrate with us the 23rd Olympic Winter

Games. CHEERING Matt, as report cards go,

that was pretty good. It was, and I like the way he moderated his Lang.

We didn't get into any of that, "This is the best Games ever." As

that becomes a pretty silly title to vie for as years go on. As he said,

outstanding sports venues, impeccable organisation,

extraordinary success, these were the athletes' Games.

Luba, Valentina and Yuri are back on the scene. Wandering through a wall

of mirrors. Our other old friends are back as

well. They've put a lot of effort into the name of these mascots

haven't they. Indeed, the bear, the hare and the Snow Leopard.

The two older children playing the parts of Valentina and Yuri, their

parents currently perform with the circus company. They were from

circus families themselves. They are saying a fond farewell to

our mascot friends, the two girls on the skis of the hare. I hope she's

not heading for that ski-cross course!

It is it's a very clever camera angle at the moment, hiding things

behind the mirror. You're right, Matt. They drift away to reveal a

rather scaled down version of the Olympic cauldron.

CHEERING And there is Misha, echoes of Misha

the bear from 1980. MUSIC: "Goodbye Moscow"

By Aleksandra Pakhmutova Just as 34 years ago, we shed a

single tear. The Flame is extinguished. It was

lit at Olympia on 29th September and today it dies to be relit ahead of

the next Games in Rio in the Summer Olympics and in PyeongChang in 2018.

MUSIC: "At Home Among Strangers" By Eduard Artemyev

As winter passes, a new spring is on the horizon as one season places

another. The soprano is Hibla Gerzmava. She

was born and brought up in the Black Sea region. She is travelling in a

Springmaker. Not sure if she fancied a bobsled! Nearly 2,000 children are

carrying the bright yellow flowers. They are mimosas, the flowers found

in southern Russia and a symbol of Sochi's Games.

MATTHEW PINSENT: The ceremony designer described the Fisht Olympic

Stadium as an incredible machine and you have seen that tonight. All

these things in the air, some of the lights. The pages of the book and

now these petals flowing around the stadium.

HAZEL IRVINE: It is certainly beautiful.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The winter is going and spring is

coming. Don't forget, there is a Paralympics first starting on 7th

March. We saw our old friend Valery Gergiev conducting that choir once

again and it was Valery Gergiev who said Russia, with their culture, is

not a country, it's a huge piece of land! Once again, one of the

cultural icons of this country, chai Tchaikovsky Heralds in the

fireworks. You can't beat some good fireworks! I think you are right. It

underlines the scale of this huge park. We are here in the coastal

cluster and up in the mountains as well. We know it is going to play

host to football at the World Cup. They are talking about Formula One

as well. I really hope Sochi is on the map sporting-wise. There is no

reason now that they can't afford to build on this.

I also hope that Russia build on it as a sporting rebirth as well. We

remember them under the old Soviet banner of being a sporting

superpower. But, hopefully now, this is a stepping stone for Russian

sport. Clean, healthy, going forward strong and competitive. As you say,

top of the medals table this time. You can see that happening quite a

few more times in the future, can't you?

And a deafening roar overhead as the fireworks formally bring Sochi's

Games to a conclusion. But the champagne and caviar has been

consumed, the burger and chips is about to be served!

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for celebrating the Closing Ceremony

with us tonight. See you in PyeongChang!

The formalities are over. But there are about 2,500 athletes in here who

want to party. They will be let loose on this floor of the Fisht

Olympic Stadium. We are in the 21st Century now, Matt. Will you please

welcome DJ Boomer? I have his album, it is brilliant(!)

Come join DJ Kto and let's get this party started! The athletes are

invited to join the floor. They are coming out of their seats now and I

think this could go on for quite some time.

So, Matt, that brings the formal part of the ceremony to a close. We

will let them have a good time in here, shall we? How will you reflect

on Sochi's Games? I think Britain has done brilliantly. I think Team

GB has taken the Winter Olympic Torch, the account baton that was

handed to them -- the Baton that was handed to them after London. People

were thinking, "Could the team do as well again?" They have. It is

getting even better for Great Britain's athletes. Records have

been broken and smashed here and I think Great Britain's statement that

they could become a world power, certainly more medals to come in

winter sport... Steady. It is not a world power. Indeed. In terms of the

numbers of medals to be won, that is on the up? Absolutely. There will be

lots of conversations coming in the few months about funding and how to

support our winter athletes going forward the same way that we do our

summer athletes. Indeed. Russia has done an excellent job of showing

winter sport at its best. Boney M probably said it best - got to go

home! The Voice, we have made it! Clare, back to you.

Many thanks to Hazel and to Matt. Look at these fireworks. They have

put tonnes of them down the beach on the coast of the Black Sea. That is

the Bolshoi Dome in the foreground where the ice hockey matches took

place. This is incredible. A clear night's sky lit up with a

range of colours as the fireworks explode and bring to an end the

Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. And all around us people have stood

outside with their cameras. They are applauding the finale. Although this

was the most expensive Winter Olympics ever staged. In fact it

cost more than all the previous ones put together, they saved a million

or two for a fireworks display to finish it off. Amy Williams is

alongside me. There is no better way to finish any event than an amazing

fireworks display like that. My seat was shaking, it felt like it was ten

metres behind me. That was the most amazing fireworks display I've seen.

And there was so much energy and delight, they were cheering every

moment. Russians who've paid to be here, who have worked here, I think

they maybe reflect top words that Thomas Bach used. As he said, with

an open mind you with see the new face of Russia. I thought he talked

deliberate how he talked about tolerance and peace, how everyone

can live together with mutual respect and show the rest of the

world, anywhere under oppression, can show the way forward. That's the

most amazing thing about the Olympics had, you have athletes

living alongside each other from every nation, sitting in the food

hall eating next to a nation you would never necessarily be with

before. That's the Olympics, in peace and harmony. Everyone's been

here for three weeks alongside each other and the Russians and everyone

has joined in and enjoyed the whole experience. If you missed the very

long closing ceremony, in many ways this is the best way to enjoy it.

Here are some of the highlights. And there was a nod to one

malfunction in the opening ceremony when the fifth ring didn't ignite. A

real delay before it happened here. Who knew that such a sense of humour

could be found in an maizing a ceremony?

-- in an amazing ceremony. Huge amounts of children involved. The

choreography was beautiful, music through the ages reflecting Russian

composers. As with the opening ceremony, the ballet playing a large

role and the reference to Russian literature. They have been

rehearsing this since the opening ceremony. We've seen bus loads of

children coming in to rehearse in the Fisht stadium every day. And

there is Misha the bear. A tear is shed. Echoes there of Moscow 1980

and the flame extinguished. This is what happened in 1980, as

the Moscow Games closed. This is what they were echoing, the iconic

image of Misha shedding just one tear. This Winter Olympics so

different, obviously the Cold War is over. It is Russia now and not the

USSR. America were competing here for the first time on Russian soil.

Yes Russia still has its problems and hate a strange attitude

certainly in terms of gay rights. But there is a real feeling here

that they are trying to change, they are trying to recognise the rest of

the world and embrace them through the message of sport. In pure

sporting terms Amy it has been a fascinating Games to watch unfold.

The new sports that came in have proved hugely successful. They are

capturing a younger audience and including younger athletes as well.

It's been a big change. To be up in the mountains with the extra sports,

and ski slopestyle has been an amazing thing to watch. I think that

is going to bring in the younger people. How many young children will

be asking their mums and dads if they can do that and is there a ski

slope they can practise and be here to compete. This was Billy Morgan,

who finished 10th in the snowboard slopestyle. This was his entrance

into the stadium. He's a former acrobat, but his team-mate posted

this. Look at Billy Morgan there! Just loving it as well. What an

entrance! That sums him up doesn't it? Brilliant. They are having the

time of their life. The hard work is done. They've competed and finished.

Why not celebrate the closing ceremony. They'll all be on a plane

home and before they know it thinking, did it ever happen? There

are athletes in the British team who will really be wishing time away so

they can prove themselves in Korea. One is Elise Christie, and another

is Rowan Cheshire. She is only 18. Is it was unfortunate. She went out,

Triad big trick and ended up flat on her face. Concussion and stuff, wise

not to compete. They would have loved this experience and I'm sure

that's going to put a fire in her belly to train, to work hard,

hopefully get funding to be able to help her do more training. She'll be

out here fighting to compete next time around. Thomas Bach

interestingly thank President Putin in person, which doesn't often

happen in terms of leaders being recognised by the IOC President.

Vladimir Putin said he wanted Russia to win the ice hockey. They were

outcollapsed early on. They never contended for a medal or make the

semifinals. But the final was between two of the superpowers of

ice hockey - Sweden, and Canada, the defending champions, trying to win

it for a ninth time. This is what happened in the gold medal match.

Three on two for Canada. How will they use it?

A few Canadian fans thought that had gone in. Carter sends it all the way

through and scores! Maybe a touch and Canada have the first gold in

the Olympic final. A huge goal. He's been doing this his whole

career. He is in front of net and he goes for gold. He opens up scoring

for Canada. He's a triple gold member. Here again he might just

help Canada towards the gold medal at the Olympics.

Given away by Ericsson. This could be danger. Crosby scores! Canada

lead by two goals to nil. The golden child of Canadian hockey scores

again in a gold medal match. Sydney Crosby, a fine finish. Canada seize

control. Crosby reaps return of his own hard work. In he goes. Canada

said he ain't the kid no more. He's a man who is leading his team to a

gold medal, once again. Canada 11 #340i7b9s from -- Canada 11 minutes

from a gold medal. Sweden need to find another gear. And he scores!

What a time for him to announce his arrival. Surely that seals gold for

Canada now? His first of the Olympic Games. Canada are coasting to glory

here, as they will retain the gold medal at this Olympic Games. They

will surely be the Sochi 2014 champions. He's a crowd killer. He

rips one off the bar and down. Canada will continue to do their

thing. The Arena rises here. He won't give up. Comes out in front.

Carter will slowly send this one down the ice. Canada are the Olympic

champion back to back for the Canadians! Gold medal in Vancouver

and gold now in Sochi! The 2014 champions, the gold

medallists, Canada. Canada's men win the ice hockey, the final gold on

offer at the Games. Russia, who finished only 11th in the Vancouver

Winter Olympics, topped the table with 1 golds. -- 13 golds.

Great Britain in 19th place with one gold, one silver and two bronze

medals, that equals record of 1984 but in a sense betters it.

Join Mark Chapman for a review of all the Premier League action on 10.

25pm on BBC One. The Winter Paralympics take place here in Sochi

using a lot of the stadiums but also up in the mountains there are five

winter sports in total. 72 gold medals on offer. There's

coverage on 5Live and on the BBC website.

Looking right ahead, in case you want to write it in your diary,

PyeongChang is where we'll be headed in the Republic of Korea for the

2018 Olympics. I don't think I've ever trailed anything so far in

advance! But it is good to know. Amy, in a professional sense, people

genuinely will start training right away on Monday? Yes. They'll

probably take a few weeks off, a chill out, do nothing, rest their

bodies, but correct, they are going to be back in that gym training.

Lizzie around said after -- Lizzy Yarnold said she will be back in the

gym after winning her medal. She had a Valentine's Day to remember.

SONG: From Russia With Love by Matt Monro

Lizzy Yarnold, our Olympic champion in skeleton, following in the

footsteps of Amy Williams. You promised her a month's rent free.

Weird to think four years ago she was sitting at home watching you and

now she's the champion. I know. It proves that nothing is impossible.

If you watch someone else you can get that treatment as well. She's

worked so, so hard for it in those four years. I go and encourage

everyone to do exactly the same. She's the perfect role model, if

you've got a great team around you, you listen, you have the best

equipment, you spend as much time as possible on the ice track or the

snow, you can be here challenging and getting a medal. And that is

Lizzy. If you go to the BBC website and look for Get Inspired you can

find out what your local facilities are like. Lizzy Yarnold became the

tenth winter Olympic champion and joins this Hall of Fame.

The British ice hockey team in stripes have been covering them in

glory. This is the girl that gave Britain her first Olympic title.

When all the points were added up, Jeanette had won the Olympic figure

skating title. It looks like a good start. They are all safely aboard.

This is a really fast run by the Britons. They could be on the way to

a gold medal. Superb artistry. Superb athleticism. John curry did

not -- John curry did not put a foot wrong.

Robin Cousins, the gold medallist of 1980. The people are standing and

applauding. The Union Jacks are flying around the rink. Jayne

Torvill and Christopher Dean have won the gold medal. It is looking

good. She's done it! It's Olympic gold for Great Britain. Surely it is

gold for Great Britain. Oh yes! Amy Williams is the Queen of Speed! Here

goes Lizzy Yarnold. She is going to win the gold medal. She is going to

do it. Come on, last corner. Lizzy Yarnold is the Olympic Champion. Oh

my goodness. That is brilliant. It's amazing watching that, seeing how

much technology has changed, equipment has changed, the quality

of television picture has changed. You think how far Winter Olympic

sport has come and all the new sports, how successful they were

this year? There's so much research and development that goes into every

one of these sports, especially skeleton. The equipment in ten years

I have been involved in the sport has changed dramatically. That's the

way sport goes. You have seen it in the summer and the winter is going

in the same way. The essence of sport remains the same. People go

out there, they do their best, some win, some don't. My word, we have

enjoyed watching it. Here is Eddie Butler's review of everything that

has happened at these limb pics on snow and on ice. -- Olympics on snow

and on ice. It was Stalin's favourite resort, which meaned Sochi

already glowed red with history. To the north, up the Black Sea coast,

Ukraine, one of the hotspots of geo-politics, tensions in the

Russian-speaking world. A little t much warmth all round. Sochi, so

chilly. Temperature control at its finest. At these Games in Russia,

being first was the obvious theme. To be a champion is fantastic. To be

the first champion is Olympic immortality. A first for slope style

and the energy that goes into its rails and kickers!

COMMENTARY: What an incredible finish! The stand-out rider here is

Jamie Anderson. A first for a women who do not twist and turn and cut

the air with their skis as knives. But who float on ironing boards.

COMMENTARY: A piece of history that will never ever be forgotten.

Floating men, too. Somehow normal and big hill don't quite sell the

drama and the grace of this. In Belarus, the highest mountain is

just over 1,100 feet high. 1,100 feet on which to rehearse aerial

excellence. In the half-pipe, one person stood not just for

excellence, but for supremacy. He was his sport.

COMMENTARY: Oh no! Not in Sochi. Shaun White is human.

It became a trend, the Su prizewinner.

COMMENTARY: Double medal combo. -- The surprise winner. There was a

time when the Scandinavians frowned on alpine frivolity. It is about

distance and then more distance. Well, the Norwegians still go the

extra mile but they seem to have embraced the emotions of the modern

age. COMMENTARY: What a performance from

Marit Bjoergen. The Iron Lady turning herself to rust! And winning

his weight in heavy metal, another Norwegian. 13 medals in total, eight

of them gold. Speed isn't everything, or even winning gold.

Vanessa Mae, hands that can fly and feet that slid wonderfully to last

place. There's still a place for those that do not sit on top of the

leaderboard. COMMENTARY: They are all everywhere!

There's always appreciation for those that do not sit on the

winner's heels, but nothing beats the Olympian who will not be beaten.

COMMENTARY: She defends her title! The tight finishes of Sochi so

chilled Sochi. COMMENTARY: They share gold medal

position. They raised the temperature so high that all the

bare snow and ice nearly melted. It's a tradition in the Netherlands

to make skates while the sun doesn't shine. Who needs snow when you can

go this fast on ice? COMMENTARY: The Dutch are on their

feet. A new Olympic record! A clean sweep by the Dutch.

There are dangers on ice. You have to be careful how far you can go

down on your front. And on your back. On your front, on your back,

head first, feet first, the Germans in the luge...

COMMENTARY: Germany have won everything so far. That is

remarkable. The home favourite in the skeleton.

COMMENTARY: Russia at last have a champion.

Then the Express trains. Of course, it is a property of ice th you don't

need a slope to make things move on it. A Africa Church-free rumble of

granite -- a friction -free rumble of granite. Russian ice - where once

a mighty Soviet machine ruled, but no more.

COMMENTARY: What a finish! Russia's machine beaten and beaten again. It

was left to North Americans, more Americans.

COMMENTARY: A "golden goal" for Canada. Canada are the Olympic

Champions. In the short track skating, crashes,

too. COMMENTARY: He's gone down. Glory is

about surviving them, avoiding disqualifications. Gold can come

unopposed. Or it comes with a full house flash of inch-perfect

finishing. COMMENTARY: History here has been

made by Viktor Ahn. He's written his name into sporting immortality. Ice,

music, dance. Here there can be crashes. Costly crashes. Sometimes

you don't need a crash to know your time is up. The Iceberg Skating

Palace, devoted to graceful athletic pairs. It doesn't get any better

than that. And beautiful women... She is the Olympic Champion. And

beautiful men. In Sochi, we all fell in love with somebody, no matter

who. Some wonderful images there, perfect

words as well. Amy Williams, what will be the moment that you

treasure? Obviously, it's going to be Lizzy's gold. For me, the

flag-raising ceremony that we had for GB, for all the team to come

together and you watch the Great Britain flag go up into the air

along with the Olympic Rings. And that gets everyone together, right

at the beginning. It was great for me to be their ambassador to help

them. I got to speak to each one of them. So that was pretty amazing. It

is not easy to come to your first Winter Olympics and not be an

athlete? So to feel that connected is lovely? It was really lovely.

Yes, it's been pretty tough in a weird kind of way being here. But

unbelievable at the same time and to be able to help the next generation.

To be at the different events with them and having little chats when

they need it and to be there to help. I can - can I say, your

passion and expertise has shone through on television and for

somebody making their Winter Olympic debut as a broadcaster, you have

done a brilliant job and many thanks to all of those that have worked so

hard on this, in Sochi and in Salford, who worked for months to

put all this together and make sure that it has worked as well it has.

It's been the most successful for Team GB's athletes and we salute the

winter Olympians of 2014. From Sochi, goodbye.

# Here comes the sun # Here comes the sun

# And I say # It's alright

# Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter

# Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

# Here comes the sun # Here comes the sun, and I say

# It's alright # Little darling, the smiles

returning to the faces # Little darling, it seems like

years since it's been here # Here comes the sun, and I say

# It's alright # Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

# Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting

# Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear

# Here comes the sun # Here comes the sun, and I say

# It's alright # Here comes the sun, and I say

# It's alright # It's alright. #