Winter Olympics closing ceremony highlights : NPR

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Piero Cruciatti/AFP by way of Getty Photographs VERONA, Italy — The Winter Olympics are formally over. We have been among the many 1000's of people that helped bid them goodbye in a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy, on Sunday, with a ceremony that was principally sentimental however punctuated by rousing bursts of lights, confetti and electropop music.

The closing ceremony echoed among the pomp and circumstance of its opening counterpart 16 days earlier: the athletes' Parade of Nations, the elevating of flags, the respective lighting and extinguishing of the 2 Olympic cauldrons (in Milan and Cortina).

However after two-and-a-half weeks of fierce competitors, storied traditions and emotional ups and downs, this celebration had a noticeably extra relaxed really feel — not less than amongst athletes and spectators.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5739x3646+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2Fd2%2F34c737f54b13a4d079c702bc3753%2Fgettyimages-2263022239.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5739x3646+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2Fd2%2F34c737f54b13a4d079c702bc3753%2Fgettyimages-2263022239.jpg" class="img" alt="The night's musical performances brought high-tech set design to a roughly 2,000-year-old amphitheater." loading="lazy"/> The night time's musical performances introduced high-tech set design to a roughly 2,000-year-old amphitheater. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photographs Europe cover caption

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Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photographs Europe For one, the Verona Enviornment — which was constructed round 30 AD for gladiator battles — holds a significantly smaller crowd than Milan's San Siro stadium (some 15,000 vs. 75,000 individuals). It is an open-air venue with stone seats, which made for a good bit of shuffling round (and occasional cellphone calls) amongst spectators. Every seat held a tote bag with a slim seat cushion in it, to make the two-and-a-half hour occasion somewhat cozier.

The closing ceremony's Parade of Nations was basically only a parade of flag-bearers, however not like the opening ceremony, it went with out an announcer. This time, the snow queens in puffer-coat-gowns from the opening ceremony have been changed with volunteers carrying loose-fitting tunics, the ceremony equal of placing on sweatpants after a tough day's work.

Even the athletes have been dressed extra for consolation this time round. Group USA, outfitted by Ralph Lauren for the tenth straight Video games, traded their opening ceremony pleated trousers and wool coats for streetwear-inspired saggy pants and puffer jackets.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7488x4992+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F8c%2F4f81023c421f8fb5dab0034934e2%2Fgettyimages-2262528519.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7488x4992+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F8c%2F4f81023c421f8fb5dab0034934e2%2Fgettyimages-2262528519.jpg" class="img" alt="Hunter Wonders parades with other members of Team USA at the closing ceremony at the Verona Arena in Verona, Italy on Sunday." loading="lazy"/> Hunter Wonders parades with different members of Group USA on the closing ceremony on the Verona Enviornment in Verona, Italy, on Sunday. Stefano Rellandini/AFP by way of Getty Photographs cover caption

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Stefano Rellandini/AFP by way of Getty Photographs The occasion was somewhat shorter than the opening, however there was nonetheless a ton to absorb. There have been the requisite speeches from Worldwide Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and the pinnacle of the Italian organizing committee, with many, many thanks given to the regional hosts and the 80,000 volunteers who staffed the Video games (a few of whom have been watching subsequent to us within the stands).

There was additionally the customary passing of the metaphorical torch to the subsequent Winter Olympics host: France, whose Alps would be the website of the 2030 Video games. And there was a shoutout to the Paralympics, which kick off — on the identical Verona venue — on March 6.

At occasions, individuals within the crowd stood as much as clap for medalists — and received rapidly shouted down by the journalists wielding telephoto lenses behind them.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd6%2F56%2F486ff14c449392b14e6d200a048c%2Fgettyimages-2263026697.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd6%2F56%2F486ff14c449392b14e6d200a048c%2Fgettyimages-2263026697.jpg" class="img" alt="Gloria Campaner plays the piano, surrounded by candelabras, at Sunday's closing ceremony." loading="lazy"/> Gloria Campaner performs the piano, surrounded by candelabras, at Sunday's closing ceremony. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photographs Europe cover caption

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Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photographs Europe And there have been so many candelabras, a recurring motif on this "night time on the opera"-themed occasion. At one level, there have been performers dressed as candelabras, shifting candelabra ground lamps, whereas connected to a big dangling candelabra chandelier.

Talking as spectators within the media nosebleed seats, this ceremony was extra enjoyable to look at than the opening, which was nonetheless a complete blast. However this one got here with a tangible sense of reduction and much more crowd participation: beams of sunshine shone throughout us, confetti floated down on prime of us and Diplo (the legendary DJ) commanded us all to bop.

You learn that proper. The sober dousing of the Olympic flame was instantly adopted by a seat-shaking DJ set from digital music supergroup Main Lazer, which received a lot of the sector on their frozen toes.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5296x3531+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffb%2F75%2Fe3f1f97b475ca37e1dc8412ff3d9%2Fgettyimages-2262548446.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5296x3531+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffb%2F75%2Fe3f1f97b475ca37e1dc8412ff3d9%2Fgettyimages-2262548446.jpg" class="img" alt="Music collective Major Lazer and Jamaican singer Nyla" loading="lazy"/> Main Lazer received the gang shifting with a medley of their hits, joined by collaborators together with Jamaican singer Nyla. Stefano Rellandini/AFP by way of Getty Photographs cover caption

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Stefano Rellandini/AFP by way of Getty Photographs The rave — and the ceremony — ended a couple of minutes later. However like all good events, there was nonetheless enjoyable available on the way in which out.

Afterward, as we navigated the crowds and avenue closures, we stopped to let a world stream of athletes cross the highway.

A number of the uniform-clad Olympians hopped on buses that took them again to Milan; others had the identical concept as us and ducked into McDonald's. Inside we noticed Union Jack sweaters, Group Latvia coats and the Winter Olympic GOAT, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, together with his fellow Norwegian cross-country medalists, placing in a number of orders of hen wings.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5529x3769+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F12%2Fdd86061c45f2bfa0952971325e11%2Fgettyimages-2263027813.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5529x3769+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F12%2Fdd86061c45f2bfa0952971325e11%2Fgettyimages-2263027813.jpg" class="img" alt="Colorful confetti — seen during Major Lazer's set — beams of light and glitter cannons illuminated the night sky at various points." loading="lazy"/> Colourful confetti — seen throughout Main Lazer's set — beams of sunshine and glitter cannons illuminated the night time sky at varied factors. Joosep Martinson/Getty Photographs cover caption