The 2026 Winter Olympics conclude at Verona Arena, marking the first Olympic Closing Ceremony held at a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Related: 24 Historical Pictures From Every Winter Olympics That Are Honestly Mind-Blowing When You See How Far The Games Have Come The record goes on to note that "this astonishing figure equates to 70% of the population, or roughly two out of every three people on the planet."

Ancient themes and a stunning setting brought the curtain down on a Winter Games that showcased some of oldest myths in the sporting world.

The word "Olympics" is rooted in ancient Greece. In Greek mythology, the gods would descend from Mount Olympus into the town of Olympia to gather and socialize with humans, according to Matthew Llewellyn, co-director of the Center for Sociocultural Sport and Olympic Research at California State University, Fullerton.

Follow the latest live news on all things Olympics 2026 closing ceremonies as the Winter Games winds down after a memorable run in Milano Cortina.

The twin Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have been extinguished, signaling the end of the most spread-out Winter Games.

The 2026 Winter Olympics ended as the twin flames in co-host cities Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were extinguished during a closing ceremony inside ancient Verona Arena.