Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Recap: The Giant Mechanical Bear Misha Re-emerged To Extinguish Olympic Flame

The 2014 Olympics officially came to an end Sunday night, with an impressive closing ceremony featuring the three Sochi mascots, dancers and a journey through Russian culture.

The Sochi closing ceremonies were elaborate, filled with detailed sets and beautiful lighting tricks. The closing ceremony featured a lot of dancing, including a group of people who formed the five Olympic rings on the floor. Proving Russia is not without a sense of humor, the fifth ring failed to open for a short moment before finally opening and completing the Olympic sign – something that failed to happen at the opening ceremonies when the fifth ring failed to open.

Olympians then paraded out, to roars from the crowds, each country again in their national uniforms. USA’s Julie Chu from the Women’s Ice Hockey Team carried the flag through the parade.

But the main spectacle of the closing ceremony was the staging of Russia’s soul. The audience was transported through a cultural history of Russia, with a great focus on music, literature and dance.

As is tradition, Russia then passed on the Olympic flag to Peyongchang, South Korea, where the next Winter Olympic Games will take place in 2018.

Finally, the Sochi 2014 mascots arrived onstage to pass on the Olympic flame.

The giant mechanical bear named Misha, skiing rabbit and snowboarding leopard emerged, rolling slowly towards the Olympic flame. The bear blew out the flame and shed a tear for the end of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The 2014 Winter Olympics ended with an extravagant fireworks display overhead.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Get Uinterview's FREE iPhone App For Daily News Updates here.

Get the FREE Uinterview iPad app here and watch our videos anywhere.

More on Sochi:

_{Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Gold In Women'™s Slalom At Sochi, Talks Future Olympics}

_{Polina Edmunds Proves Herself In Olympic Debut At Sochi}

_{Sarah Burke Honored By Olympic Skiers At Sochi}

_{Lolo Jones' Bobsledding Skill Questioned By Chuck Berkeley}

_{Ashley Wagner Speaks Out Against Figure Skating Scoring}