Olympic athletes on Sunday marched into the stadium for the closing ceremony and to bid farewell to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
The ceremony at Bird’s Nest Stadium featured the athletes who are still in Beijing after competing at the Winter Games.
Like the opening ceremony, it was headed by director Zhang Yimou, who choreographed a show of dancers with tiny, fiery snowflakes gliding through the stadium.
There was a modest crowd of invited guests shaking hand clappers and doing the wave.
The Beijing Games forged ahead this year despite concerns about the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading across the globe.
Athletes were subjected to strict COVID-19 protocols, including testing to get into the country, daily testing after they arrived and wearing masks except when they were competing. They had to stay within the Olympic bubble the entire time they were in China.
Members of Team Germany make their way around the Beijing National during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing. Getty Images
Members of Team Norway make their way around the Beijing National Stadium. Lars Baron/Getty Images
Members of Team Czech Republic make their way around the stadium during the closing ceremony. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Athletes who are still in Beijing after competing at the Winter Games too part in the closing ceremony. Bernat Armangue/AP
Dancers with tiny, fiery snowflakes glided through the stadium. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. USA TODAY Sports
Fireworks light up the sky during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks spell out “One World” during the closing ceremony. AFP via Getty Images
Flag bearers walk into the stadium for the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. APThere have only been 463 positive tests among thousands of visitors inside the bubble since Jan. 23.
The International Olympic Committee also faced scrutiny for allowing a government accused of human rights violations to host the competition. Several Western governments boycotted by not sending any official delegations to represent them, though they sent athletes.
On Sunday night, Chinese President XI and IOC President Thomas Bach helped hand off to Milan-Cortina, which will host the 2026 Winter Games.
The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, and the Mayor of Cortina, Gianpietro Ghedina, right, wave the Olympic flag as International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, left, watches during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. Italy is hosting the next Winter Olympics. AP
Fireworks light up the sky during the ceremony. Getty Images
Min Kyu Cha waves the flag of Team Republic of Korea. Maja Hitij/Getty Images
China’s flag bearer Xu Mengtao (C), Italy’s flag bearer Francesca Lollobrigida (R) seen during the parade of athletes. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images
Flagbearers of participating countries parade during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Getty Images
The Olympic cauldron is seen as performers dance during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty ImagesWith Post wires
