IPC President closes 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia’s Sochi, considers them best ever

SOCHI, KAZINFORM - As the Paralympics flag of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi was lowered, Sir Philip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), passed it to South Korea's PyeongChang, the host of the next Winter Paralympic Games in 2018, ITAR-TASS reports.

"Tonight I simply want to thank you and each one of you for making these Games so special, so memorable and so compelling that not one of us wants them to end," Craven said addressing the full-packed Fisht Stadium, which has a 40,000-seat capacity and hosted the closing ceremony of the Games. "At last week's opening ceremony, I called upon you all to have barrier-free minds. But how are your barrier-free minds feel tonight? Do you sense a greater degree of liberation whether here in Sochi, in the wider Russia or throughout the world? I certainly do!" Craven said. "I thank you all and say with great pleasure - Sochi 2014 - the best Winter Paralympic Games ever - the Games that showed miracles know no borders." Craven thanked Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and Dmitry Chernyshenko, the head of the Sochi Organizing Committee, for the outstanding organization of the Games.