It was, said John Furlong (pictured), the chief executive of Vancouver 2010, during the Ceremony at the Whistler Medals Plaza, both a celebration of the Paralympics and a farewell to the Games.

An exhausted-looking and emotionally-sounding Furlong told the damp crowd of 7,000: "Tonight we take our final steps across the finish line of Canada's Games.

"Our work is done.

"Paralympians you have dazzled us with your agility, your strength, your endurance, your sportsmanship.

"You have given us drama and thrills we will never forget.

"You reflect the best kind of human character, integrity and focus.

"Many of you will go home as champions.

"All of you will go home as winners.

"Lauren [Woolstencroft], Brian [McKeever], Viviane [Forest] - you are Canada's newest heroes.

"Every Canadian child knows who you are,"

"Canada's Games are over - we did it!

"If we have had success, it was because all 33 million Canadians for an instant became loyal trusted team mates.

"We were 'Team Canada - Equipe Canada' -- not the few but the many.

"We did this together - all of us living every moment and all the drama like we ourselves were the athletes."

Furlong did not stay to see the dazzling firework display that lit up this mountain resort at the end of the two-hour ceremony.

By then he was already on his way to Georgia - via a specially chartered helicopter to take him to Vancouver International Airport -  where he is due to attend a memorial service on Tuesday for Nodar Kumaritashvili, the luger killed on the opening day of the Olympics.

A parade of more than a thousand athletes and officials opened the Ceremony as they walked through Whistler Village past cheering crowds.

The programme included performances by an Inuit throat singer, a Lil'wat Nation hoop dancer and Winnipeg's Chantal Kreviazuk.

The Disabled Skiers Association of British Columbia led a torch light ski down Whistler Mountain.

Approximately 125 skiers of all ages made their way down the mountain using various modes of transportation - from traditional skis and poles to sit-skis.

As the national anthem was being sung, a huge Canadian flag was unfurled over the audience gathered to watch the ceremony in the stadium.

Sir Philip said: "Athletes, at the Opening Ceremony, I said that we awaited 'your plus brilliant exploits'.

"We were not disappointed.

"You set the 10th Winter Paralympic Games on fire."

Sir Philip, like Furlong, paid special tribute to the volunteers - or "blue jackets" as they are regularly referred to, a reference to their distinctive outfits.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said: "Volunteers, your contribution to the Paralympic Spirit is incalculable.

"You have helped make these Paralympic Winter Games truly magical.

"The best-ever Winter Paralympic Games."

Vancouver 2010 has certainly set a high standard for Sochi to follow in 2014.



The Mayors of Whistler and Vancouver, Ken Melamed and Gregor Robertson respectively, then passed on the Paralympic flag to the Sir Philip, who passed it over to Sochi Mayor, Anatoly Pakhomov.

Singers from Sochi performed as the Russian flag was raised over the Whistler Medals Plaza.

The Black Sea resort near the Caucasus mountains used the sounds of Tchaichovsky’s "Waltz of the Snowflakes" and images of a sand artist’s animation to accompany an onstage skating performance by Paralympic swimming champion Olesya Vladykina and Olympic figure skating champion Ilia Kulik.


Related stories
March 2010: Whistler promising a special Closing Ceremony whatever the weather
March 2010: Paralympic Closing Ceremony to be shown live nationwide in Canada
March 2010: Tribute to Terry Fox centrepiece of Paralympic Opening Ceremony
March 2010: Sir Philip claims TV snub is "smack in the face" for Paralympics
March 2010: BBC defend lack of Paralympic coverage as CTV cave into pressure to show Opening Ceremony live