Anchor: The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics came to an end on Sunday with a grand closing ceremony. The Olympic flag was handed over to Pyeongchang, South Korea, the host of the next winter games. Our Kim Soyon reports.
 
Report: The closing ceremony of the Sochi Olympics started out with sublime music and showcased elements of Russian history and culture on a majestic level.
 
The ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium featured performances of ballet and classical music as well as important figures of the Russian arts and literature.
 
Athletes from 88 countries gathered at the giant arena on Sunday to bid their farewells.  In the biggest Winter Olympic Games ever, South Korea finished 13th with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Sochi. 

The ceremony reached a climax when the Olympic flag was handed over to the host of the next winter games, South Korea's Pyeongchang, through the president of the International Olympic Committee.
 
[Sound bite: Thomas Bach / President, International Olympic Committee] 
"We will meet again in four years at the Pyeongchang Olympics."
 
An eight-minute performance followed the handover of the flag. Soprano Jo Su-mi, jazz musician Nah Youn-sun and singer Lee Seung-cheol sang the traditional Korean song "Arirang" as an invitation to Pyeongchang, South Korea.

South Korea also worked hard during the Sochi games to learn how to run the international event. The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee has promised to build on Sochi's experience to thoroughly prepare for the next Winter Olympics.
 
President of the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee, Kim Jin-sun, commented on the next host city at a news conference.

[Sound bite: Kim Jin-sun / President of Pyeongchang Organizing Committee] 
"We will do everything in our power to deliver the best games."
 
The Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games will be held for 17 days from February 9, 2018, under the theme "New Horizons."
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.