Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics closes as China posts best-ever overseas result

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday, after 17 days of competition that saw broad participation.



International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry declared the Games closed at the historic Verona Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



"This is the true Olympic spirit: competing, embracing, lifting each other up whatever the result. You showed us what excellence, respect and friendship look like in a world that often forgets these values," Coventry said in her closing speech.



The Games officially opened on February 6, featuring 2,880 athletes from 93 delegations - including first-time Winter Olympic participants from Benin, Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates - competing in 116 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines, with women accounting for a record 47 percent of competitors.



Norway topped the medal tally with 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals, followed by the United States and the Netherlands.



Host nation Italy finished fourth with 10 golds, six silvers and 14 bronzes, delivering its strongest performance in Winter Olympic history.