Giovanni Malago continues: "My thoughts turn to the many young people who embraced these Games. To them, we affirmed that another world is possible through sport. I believe that this message has resonated powerfully and will endure.

"In just two weeks' time, we will do it all again together, when Milan-Cortina 2026 hosts the Paralympic Games. Same iconic venues, same beautiful landscape, same vibrant Italian spirit of peace and respect, the same determination to promote positive change in society and in public consciousness.

"Tonight, the sacred flame of Olympia will be extinguished, but our Games are far from being over.

"The spirit of Milan-Cortina 2026 will endure as a legendary legacy in every child and every community that has the courage to dream big.

"To all of you, to all the Italians, I can say with pride: our mission - our Olympic mission - has been accomplished."

Image source, Getty Images

Giovanni Malago, president of the organising committee for the Milan-Cortina Games, says: "At the opening ceremony, I said that I was immensely proud to be Italian. Tonight, I am even prouder."

He adds: "What we have witnessed over the past two weeks demonstrates just how much the Winter Games matter to the Olympic movement. An extraordinary kaleidoscope of sporting achievements and personal journeys, where passions and emotions come together, alongside some of the contradictions of our deeply divided world."

We're on to the speeches ...

Katherine Downes
BBC Sport commentator

I have two.

Firstly, Ilia Malinin's shock eighth-place finish; it sets us up superbly for redemption comeback in four years' time in Nice. We are going to see the best of Ilia Malinin.

Secondly, Alysa Liu's gold medal and that fantastic women's free skate. Just brilliant support, camaraderie, sportswomanship from those women on the podium. It was superb to see and it made me feel good inside; that is what the Olympics is all about.

You won't find many pictures from the Games that are more emotional than this.

Japan's Riku Miura and partner Ryuichi Kihara embrace after competing in the epic pair skating event.

The duo, sitting in fifth, looked down and out after the short program but they went on to have the skate of their lives to claim Japan's first ever figure skating pairs gold.

Robin Cousins
Olympic gold medallist figure skater

My favourite moment goes to Mikhail Shaidorov.

Sitting in the leader's chair, his coach leans forward and whispers 'you have won the bronze medal' - only for Shaidorov to find out a few minutes later that it's not bronze, it's silver - and a few minutes after that, he is crowned the men's figure skating gold medallist for Milan-Cortina.

Priceless.

You could do a whole collection of images from the ice skating - it really is a gold mine for photos.

Here is a fantastic shot of American duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates in action.

It's a modern-take on La Marseillaise, complete with a full orchestra and choir in white.

The French Olympic athletes have joined them on the stage now and there's a light show.

This is where they hand the flag over to the next Winter Olympic hosts.

For those of you that aren't aware the 2030 Games will be held in the French Alps.

To show the process of the handover, the French national anthem La Marseillaise is being sung as their national flag is raised.

Snoop doggy dogg!

The rapper was one of the celebrities in attendance in Italy, but he was fully immersed - here he is wearing a jacket in support of fellow American Chloe Kim before the snowboard halfpipe final.

We're into the formal part of the ceremony now.

The Greek flag has been raised to the sound of their national anthem and now the Olympic anthem is being sung by the choir as they lower that flag.

Image source, Getty Images

It happened at Paris 2024 and it happened again at Milan-Cortina 2026 - breaking medals.

Early in the Games, two of the USA's gold medallists, Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu, revealed the ribbon had come away from their medals soon after they received their prize.

Johnson's broke while she was being interviewed by BBC Sport and speaking at a news conference afterwards, she said: "So there's the medal. And there's the ribbon.

"And here's the little piece that is supposed to go into the ribbon to hold the medal, and yeah, it came apart."

Andrea Francisi, Milan-Cortina 2026 chief Games operations officer, said: "We are going to pay maximum attention to the medals. Obviously this is something we want to be perfect when the medal is handed over because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes."

We're being treated to another performance now.

Through the power of dance they are journeying through the different forms of water as it is the source of life that connects the world.

There are gondolas - giving a nod to the infamous Venice canals - on the stage and a huge aerial water prop rotating above.

Image source, Getty Images

Another superb skiing performance to mention was that of American Breezy Johnson, who won the women's downhill, but her victory was overshadowed by team-mate Lindsey Vonn's crash.

Vonn, who competed despite sustaining a serious knee injury on the eve of the Winter Olympics, suffered a "complex tibia fracture".

She had multiple operations before returning to the United States earlier this week.

This was the moment of history for Brazil as Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won his nation's first Winter Olympic medal - a gold in the men's giant slalom.

Keeping up the celebration theme, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen jumps for joy after taking home gold in the men's giant slalom - a first ever gold medal for Brazil in the Winter Olympics.

His pose looks like it was taken straight out of Super Mario.

Image source, Getty Images

The moment that makes all of your hard work over the past four years all worth it.

Members of the French team lie in the snow and admire their gold medals together, after the gruelling 4 x 7.5km men's biathlon relay.