Editing Olympic Games (section)

===Closing ceremony===
[[File:Birdsclosing.jpg|thumb|Athletes gather in the stadium during the closing ceremony of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]]]
The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games takes place on a Sunday and after all sporting events have concluded. Flag-bearers from each participating country enter the stadium, followed by the athletes who enter together, without any national distinction.<ref name="IOCclosingProtocol">{{cite web|title=Closing Ceremony Factsheet|publisher=The International Olympic Committee|date=5 June 2012|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Closing_Ceremony_of_the_Games.pdf|access-date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016064630/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Closing_Ceremony_of_the_Games.pdf|archive-date=16 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Three national flags are hoisted while the corresponding national anthems are played: the flag of the current host country; the flag of Greece, to honour the birthplace of the Olympic Games; and the flag of the country hosting the next Summer or Winter Olympic Games.<ref name="IOCclosingProtocol"/> The president of the organising committee and the IOC president make their closing speeches, the Games are officially closed, and the Olympic flame is extinguished.<ref>{{cite web|title=Closing Ceremony|publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=31 January 2002|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_268.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013905/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_268.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009|access-date=27 August 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> In what is known as the Antwerp Ceremony, the current mayor of the city that organised the Games transfers a special Olympic flag to the president of the IOC, who then passes it on to the current mayor of the city hosting the next Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/news/feature-stories/-/38344/32574/w6rlej/the-olympic-flags-and-emblem.html|title=The Olympic Flags and Emblem|publisher=The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=26 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426042147/http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/news/feature-stories/-/38344/32574/w6rlej/the-olympic-flags-and-emblem.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The next host nation then also briefly introduces itself with artistic displays of dance and theatre representative of its culture.<ref name="IOCclosingProtocol"/>

As is customary, the last medal presentation of the Games is held as part of the closing ceremony. Typically, the marathon medals are presented at the Summer Olympics,<ref name="IOCclosingProtocol"/><ref>{{cite news|title=The Latest: Rio Games close with samba-fueled Carnival party|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune
|agency=[[The Associated Press]]
|date=21 August 2016|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-the-latest-mens-marathon-underway-on-last-day-of-2016aug21-story.html|access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref> while the cross-country skiing mass start medals are awarded at the Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Game|publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=1 June 2014|url=https://www.olympic.org/closing-ceremonies|access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref>