On Sunday February 23, the Winter Olympics came to a close in Sochi. This image gallery features the most beautiful shots taken at the Games.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Malgavko / Go to the photo bankA fireworks display above the Fisht Stadium during the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

A fireworks display above the Fisht Stadium during the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Mokrushin / Go to the photo bankMaxime Dufour-Lapointe (Canada) during the qualifying round in the women’s moguls at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Maxime Dufour-Lapointe (Canada) during the qualifying round in the women’s moguls at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Biyatov / Go to the photo bankAn athlete at practice for the national teams' cross-country skiing before the start of the Sochi Olympics.

An athlete at practice for the national teams' cross-country skiing before the start of the Sochi Olympics.
© RIA Novosti . Konstantin Chalabov / Go to the photo bankAthletes during the skiathlon event in women’s cross-country skiing at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Athletes during the skiathlon event in women’s cross-country skiing at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Grigory Sokolov / Go to the photo bankThe quarterfinals match between the national teams of Canada and Latvia in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

The quarterfinals match between the national teams of Canada and Latvia in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the photo bankAthletes during the women’s biathlon relay at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Athletes during the women’s biathlon relay at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Grigory Sisoev / Go to the photo bankAlexander Ovechkin (Russia) and goalkeeper Lars Haugen (Norway) during the quarterfinals between the Norwegian and Russian national teams in the men’s ice hockey tournament, at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Alexander Ovechkin (Russia) and goalkeeper Lars Haugen (Norway) during the quarterfinals between the Norwegian and Russian national teams in the men’s ice hockey tournament, at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Bogodvid / Go to the photo bankElena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov (Russia) perform their free skating program.

Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov (Russia) perform their free skating program.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Filippov / Go to the photo bankDarya Domracheva (Belarus) at the shooting lane of the women’s biathlon mass start race.

Darya Domracheva (Belarus) at the shooting lane of the women’s biathlon mass start race.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the photo bankThe semifinals match between the US and Swedish national teams in the women’s ice hockey tournament.

The semifinals match between the US and Swedish national teams in the women’s ice hockey tournament.
© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the photo bankAlexander Tretiakov (Russia) at the start of the men’s skeleton.

Alexander Tretiakov (Russia) at the start of the men’s skeleton.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Danichev / Go to the photo bankThe Olympic torch in the Olympic Park in Sochi.

The Olympic torch in the Olympic Park in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Ramil Sitdikov / Go to the photo bankThe women’s ski cross at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

The women’s ski cross at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Pesnya / Go to the photo bankYulia Lipnitskaya (Russia) during the figure skating performance.

Yulia Lipnitskaya (Russia) during the figure skating performance.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the photo bankAthletes during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Athletes during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Bogodvid / Go to the photo bankTatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov (Russia) during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov (Russia) during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Pesnya / Go to the photo bankKirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch (Canada) and Javier Fernandez (Spain) during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch (Canada) and Javier Fernandez (Spain) during the figure skating performance at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev / Go to the photo bankAlexander Legkov (Russia) after winning the gold medal in the mass start race in men’s cross country skiing.

Alexander Legkov (Russia) after winning the gold medal in the mass start race in men’s cross country skiing.

The Australian men’s team thanks Sochi.