PYEONGCHANG, South Korea: International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach on Sunday said that the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games opened up “new horizons” by introducing new events and digital technology and hosting a record number of athletes.
“We are embracing these new horizons,” Bach said during the event’s closing ceremony at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium. “We offer our hand to everybody to join forces in this faith in the future.”
PyeongChang 2018 offered a record 102 Gold medals, thanks to the addition of new events, like big air in snowboarding, mixed curling and mass start in speed skating.
The IOC president was also keen to highlight how PyeongChang 2018 had embraced modernity in a way that helped breathe new life into the Winter Games and enhance their global, inter-generational appeal.
“These Olympic Winter Games have introduced new events that appeal to new generations. Digital technology has enabled more people in more countries to see winter sports in more ways… Therefore I can truly say: the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 are the Games of New Horizons.”
There were 2,920 athletes from 92 nations – both Winter Olympics records – competing here in 15 sports.
“Dear athletes, you are the best ambassadors of our optimism,” Bach said. “Thank you for sharing it with us. Thank you for your competitive spirit.
Thank you for your fair play.”
Bach also paid tribute to the athletes from South and North Korea, who marched in together behind one flag at the opening ceremony.
The Koreas also assembled a joint women’s hockey team – their first combined team in any sport at an Olympics.
“With your joint march, you have shared your faith in a peaceful future with all of us,” Bach said.
“You have shown how sport brings people together in our fragile world; you have shown how sport builds bridges. The IOC will continue this Olympic dialogue, even after we extinguish the Olympic Flame.”
Bach was also full of praise for the way that the organisers had managed to deliver a Games that were “rooted in tradition” while “showing the way to the future”, something that he added was true to the founding principles of the modern Olympic Games.
Eight of the stars of the PyeongChang Games representing all five continents – Martin Fourcade (FRA), Nao Kodaira (JPN), Seun Adigun (NGR), Yun Sungbin (ROK), Ryom Tae-ok (PRK), Lindsey Vonn (USA), Liu Jiayu (CHN), Pita Taufatofua (TGA) – then joined the IOC president on the stage, to express a collective word of thanks to the host nation on behalf of the Olympic family, with a traditional Korean gesture of gratitude.
With that, the IOC president declared the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 officially closed, but before exiting the stage he turned his focus towards the next edition of the Olympic Winter Games four years hence. “In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, to celebrate with all of us, the 24th Olympic Winter Games.”
