2018 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony: Photos and highlights

The 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony featured guitar shredding, Women’s and Men’s 30 km Mass Start Classic medal presentations, and stunning visuals.

IOC President Thomas Bach called this Winter Olympics “the Games of new horizons” in an inspiring speech at the closing ceremony at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.

The Closing Ceremony started off on the a rocking tone with serious guitar shredding from teenager Yang Tae-hwan. Tae-hwan’s impassioned playing stole the opening segment, with the spotlight clearly his. His rendition of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” was a special highlight that set the mood for the night.

Country flagbearers, then the athlete delegations, walked out as everyone smiled from ear to ear, delighted to be a part of the spectacle. The Women’s and Men’s 30 km Mass Start Classic medal award ceremonies were presented in front of thousands of fans that the podium winners will remember forever.

There were musical performances by K-Pop singer CL, band EXO, DJ Raiden and many more. Stunning visual displays including the familiar drone light show from the opening ceremony making a moving version of the Pyeongchang mascot bear, who eventually turned into a heart.

The closing ceremony then ended on that EDM time with a party, club-like atmosphere featuring neon lights, fireworks and big-name DJ Martin Garrix. The energy at the stadium soared to a new level during Garrix’ set; athletes and the crowd were simply loving it.

2018 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony: Photos and Highlights

https://twitter.com/martygarrix_fr/status/967753871564197888

Above: All of Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium jumped in excitement to Garrix’s performance of the song “Forever” (by Martin Garrix & Matisse & Sadko) in a special iconic moment to finish the Winter Games.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Silver medalist Krista Parmakoski of Finland, gold medalist Marit Bjorgen of Norway and bronze medalist Stina Nilsson of Sweden poses during the medal ceremony for the Cross-Country Skiing – Ladies’ 30km Mass Start Classic during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: The winners of the Women’s 30km Mass Start Classic celebrate on the podium in front of the massive crowd and fellow athletes at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium. From left to right: silver medalist Krista Pärmäkoski of Finland, gold medalist Marit Bjørgen of Norway and bronze medalist Stina Nilsson of Sweden. Bjørgen is now the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time with 15 medals to her name: eight gold, four silver and three bronze.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Lee Hee-beom, President

Above: Team USA’s Lindsey Vonn and Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua were among the Parade of Athletes introduced by IOC President Bach. As you can see, Taufatofua wore his traditional Tonga outfit despite the cold, freezing weather at the stadium.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Guitarist Yang Tae-hwan performs during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Above: Teenage rocker Yang Tae-hwan stole the opening segment of the ceremony with not only top-notch guitar playing but the emotion in his performance.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Above: The visual light display both at the stadium and worn by the performers at the closing ceremony was superb. It really added a modern feel that told the story of where we are technology-wise in this stage of history.

Mayor of Pyeongchang Sim Jae-guk (L) and the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach (C) clap as the Mayor of Beijing Chen Jining waves the Olympic flag during the handover ceremony for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games during the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Pyeongchang Stadium on February 25, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / KAI PFAFFENBACH (Photo credit should read KAI PFAFFENBACH/AFP/Getty Images)

Above: Mayor of Pyeongchang Sim Jae-guk and Bach were part of the traditional handover ceremony to the next Winter Olympics host: Beijing, China. The Mayor of Beijing Chen Jining proudly waves the Olympic flag in anticipation of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Silver medalist Aleksandr Bolshunov of Olympic Athlete from Russia, gold medalist Iivo Niskanen of Finland and bronze medalist Andrey Larkov of Olympic Athlete from Russia pose during the medal ceremony for the Cross-Country Skiing – Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: The Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic winners received their respective medals in front of Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium. From left to right: silver medalist Aleksandr Bolshunov of Russia/OAR, gold medalist Iivo Niskanen of Finland, and bronze medalist Andrey Larkov of Russia/OAR.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: South Korean President Moon Jae-in, first lady Kim Jung-sook and Ivanka Trump, (C) daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, applaud as athletes from North and South Korea walk together during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Patrick Semansky – Pool /Getty Images)

Above: Ivanka Trump, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook in the crowd cheering on athletes and generally enjoying the celebration and spectacle of the closing ceremony.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: South Korean K-Pop singer CL performs during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: K-Pop Singer CL performed at the closing ceremony to the delight of the crowd. Her performance included extensive use of a modern light show both on the floor itself and around the the stage.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Lindsey Vonn and Team USA walk in the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Above: Team USA were absolutely thrilled to walk in the Parade of Athletes during the closing ceremony. The visuals at the stadium had many recording the moment on their phones. Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn was especially loving the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Bronze medalist Stina Nilsson of Sweden poses during the medal ceremony for the Cross-Country Skiing – Ladies’ 30km Mass Start Classic during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: Sweden’s Stina Nilsson was the first athlete presented with a medal for the Women’s 30km Mass Start Classic, and you could really see live how much the moment meant to her. She poses above with her bronze medal in the event and commemorative 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics plaque.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Above: These neon-decorated performers accompanied rocker Yang Tae-hwan’s performance at the Closing Ceremony with quality dance choreography.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Band EXO perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: Band EXO were one of the featured musical performers to close out the ceremony. From the moment they began their set, the crowd was with them.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: DJ Raiden performs during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Above: DJ Raiden performed at the Closing Ceremony to an energetic crowd of atheltes and audience members alike, taking the moment in.

Above: The visual displays, music and choreography at the closing ceremony painted a fresh portrait of the Winter Olympics.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 25: Fireworks explode behind the Olympic flame during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Above: The Winter Olympics concluded with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky.

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