The Beijing Winter Olympics flame has gone out.

On Sunday evening, IOC President Thomas Bach declared the games in the Chinese capital over.

It was "truly extraordinary" games, said the head of the International Olympic Committee at the ceremony in the Bird's Nest Stadium.

These are the international press statements on the end of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing:

Great Britain:

"The Guardian":

"Winter Games that were absurd, disturbing and often extraordinary.

The soul-shattering story of young Russian figure skater Kamila Valiyeva will be remembered.”

The Telegraph:

Farewell and goodbye to the most miserable games of all.

China, Uyghurs, Kamila Valiyeva and Putin: what was to become a show of winter sports was a succession of scandals.”

France:

"L'Équipe":

"Time stood still.

The Covid games were perfectly organized and sportingly successful.

But they will always be scarred by the Valiyeva affair.”

"Le Monde":

"Marked by the diplomatic boycott of certain countries and the threat of an epidemic, the XXIV Winter Games took place in a very controlled and smooth framework."

"Le Figaro":

"Forever unique Olympic Games went down in Olympic history in Beijing."

Spain:

"Marca":

"The Valiyeva games.

The Olympic Games closed their doors to many certainties and a single protagonist who made the big headlines.

The 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valiyeva, her positive test long ago and the, of course, immediate demands for a minimum age for the Olympic Games.”

Austria:

"Kurier":

"End of the Olympics: China is celebrating, but sport has to mourn.

With the Winter Games, the country has finally risen to become a major power in world sport.

But the Olympic spirit has finally evaporated.

The IOC thus remains true to its line.”

Switzerland:

"NZZ":

"The Olympic Games are ailing like never since the height of the Cold War.

Reforms are essential.”

USA:

The Washington Post:

Olympics end without breaking Chinese concept.

The demonstration of athletic and technical prowess involved information control and rejection of criticism.”

The New York Times:

"Beijing ends games marred by triumph, heartbreak and scandal."

Australia:

“The Age”:

“Olympic leaders must learn that doing nothing is not neutral.

It's abdication.

The International Olympic Committee has stayed out of China's politics.

It has empowered a country accused of rampant human rights abuses with the most convenient home advantage: a platform to say and do as it pleases.”