This year's Winter Olympics have officially closed in Sochi. The costliest Olympics ever ended with a spectacular show and with Russia proudly installed at the top of the medals table. With a theme "Reflections of Russia", it began as usual with a spectacular fireworks display as giant screens flashed up highlights from the 17-day games.
Russian organisers then made a light-hearted joke at their own expense. Dancers in shimmering silver tops formed FOUR perfect rings. But one group remained in a tight formation, referring back to the opening ceremony, when the fifth Olympic ring failed to unfurl. The crowd at the packed Fisht Olympic Stadium cheered the joke loudly, urging the dancers to open which they eventually did.
Later in the ceremony, the Olympic flame was extinguished and Thomas Bach gave his appraisal of the Games, his first as International Olympic Committee president. He said Russia "delivered all it promised" and the Sochi Games showed the "face of a new Russia".
The next Winter Games will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.
