France, Feb. 23 -- The Milan-Cortina Olympics drew to a close on Sunday with a two-hour ceremony at the ancient Verona Arena, roughly midway between the co-host cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo

Organisers passed the Olympic flag to representatives of the French Alps, which will follow the same spread-out model as Milan-Cortina.

Events will be held in the Alps as well as in Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea. Long-track speed skating events will be held outside of France, likely in either in Italy or the Netherlands.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said the Milan-Cortina Games had "delivered a new kind of Winter Games" which had set "a new, very high standard for the future".

Over 17 days of competition, 116 ...