Final Days of Sapporo 2017 -- Photodesks

8th Asian Winter Games Coverage Proudly Sponsored by the Olympic Council of Asia

(ATR) The closing ceremony of the Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games showcased how far winter sports have grown in Asia over the last three decades.

Sapporo hosted the first two editions of the AWG in 1986 and 1990, a fact Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto said in his closing address.

"At that time the Games were started with only seven member nations of the OCA that were familiar with winter sport, but with economic growth and the technology to make snow and ice we’ve come a long way," Katsuhiro said. "Now there are indoor ski slopes in the Middle East and indoor skating rinks in cities in Asia, so the Asian Winter Games have grown to be a large scale sporting event."

Ahead of the closing ceremony, Around the Rings paid visit to the snowboard halfpipe event. The halfpipe made its return to the AWG after not being a part of the 2011 edition in Kazakhstan.

Click here to view a photodesk from the competition.

OCA honorary life vice president Wei Jizhong commended the Japanese organizers, shared colorful anecdotes about competitors from warm weather nations and thanked the citizens of Sapporo.

"The Sapporo people liked the games, supported the Games and attended the Games," Jizhong said.

Click here to view a photodesk from the final press conference of the Sapporo 2017 Games.

The Games’ closing ceremony took place as another set of snow blanketed the city of Sapporo. Athletes, organizers and dignitaries were present at the Makomanai Skating Arena for the send off to the largest AWG.

The Crown Prince of Japan Kotaishi Naruhito attended the two-hour closing ceremony that included performances by all figure skating medalists.

"It is my sincere hope that the future Asian Winter Games will give hopes and dreams to the children and future generations," Naruhito said.

Click here to view a gallery from the ceremonies.

Written by Aaron Bauer and Brian Pinelli

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