"They have inspired the world by showing that sport can and should transcend politics and can provide hope and potential unity to a nation. We all passionately hope their successes will provide continued momentum to the peace process."

The Ukrainian flag will be carried, unsurprisingly by biathlon gold and bronze medal winner Vita Semerenko.

Flagbearers for Closing Ceremony

16:34 We have already brought you some of the flag bearers for tonight's Closing Ceremony but we now have the full list. 

Most of the names are fairly obvious -, Darya Domracheva for Belarus, Ole Einar Bjoernadalen for Norway, Charlotte Kalla for Sweden. 

Figure skater Maxim Trankov will carry the Russian flag while the Indian one will be carried by Himanshu Thakur.

16:29 Canada take the lead and it is Jonathan Toews who makes the breakthrough.with his first strike of the Games.

16:23 It may be lacking the extra something that a Russian presence would have provided - but there remains a fantastic atmosphere in the Bolshoy Ice Dome as the reigning world champions Sweden take on defending Olympic champions Canada.

15:58 Speaking of the one gold medal to come - action will begin very soon in the Bolshoy Arena between Sweden and Canada in the men's ice hockey final.

We are going to focus on that - as well as building towards this evening's Closing Ceremony. 

15:51 That result confirms what we already knew. With just one gold medal to come Russia are now guaranteed to finish top of the medals table  - both in terms of gold and total medals won.

Alexander Zubkov celebrates his second gold medal of the Games ©AFP/Getty Images



15:44 It simply had to be! Russia win the gold medal! A second gold for driver Alexander Zubkov as they clock a time of 55.39 seconds to hold on by just 0.09 seconds to finish ahead of Latvia and the United States. 

15:43 US take the lead and then Latvia. Just Russia-1 to come...

We are yet to spot the President but Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is present at the bobsleigh as Russia chase a final gold medal ©Getty Images



15:37 Germany-1 are not as quick and go into second place but then Russia-2 take the lead after a very strong second half of the run.

15:33 Could Great Britain have done just that. A superb 55.26 for the final run by John Jackson's team and that is the target for the five remaining teams.

15:31 Into the final six pairs and Germany-3 currently lead. A good performance by any of the next three could see them sneak onto the podium.

15:03 Another hour until the concluding event of Sochi 2014 - the men's ice hockey final. But in the meantime we have the fourth and final run of the four man bobsleigh to enjoy. Teams going in reverse order of course so we will have a little wait yet for the conclusion.

Russia lead Latvia by the narrowest of margins in the battle for gold - while Germany are in third but with a chasing pack hot in pursuit. 

IOC President Thomas Bach press conference

14:51 Final question now and Bach is explaining how an Olympic Games is successful if it adopts its own identity and then IOC spokesman Mark Adams concludes in the traditional way: "the President will be attending the Closing Ceremony tonight" he quips.

Bach then asks the mass of media if they have any tips with regards to his speech?

14:44 Interesting questions on whether Bach was surprised by the warm receptions he personally received when attending events. He explains how he has known about warm Russian hospitality ever since his fencing days, so was not surprised. 

Does Sochi 2014 being "Putin's Games" damage the reputation of the IOC? Bach responds by explaining how political leadership will always benefit from successful sporting events - look at Germany during the 2006 World Cup - Mr Putin and the whole Russian Government has played an important role in the whole Games and without that role, we would be sitting here now in a very different mood. Mr Putin always respected the Olympic Charter here during the Games. 

14:40 Bach is now defending the expense of Sochi 2014. It was a project to demonstrate improvement in winter sports but also to transform a whole region, he says.

14:35 Next it is security and gay rights concerns. The Games are not about political protests, says Bach. but about mutual respect. They are a way to show that people from all backgrounds can come and compete together. 

14:31 Bach now asked about Russian athletes changing nationality and criticism of the figure skating judging. He explains the many reason for athletes changing nationality and insists the IOC will keep notice of it  - before proclaiming that the skating judging is fair.

14:26 Doping is next on the agenda. What is important is that the system works, Bach says. When you look at the substances taken - mainly stimulants in low amounts - it shows the advances we have made and that the IOC is serious in their zero-tolerance approach.

I cannot comment on individual cases, he says in response to Johnnnes Duerr reportedly being caught in Austria in a training camp ahead of travelling to Sochi, but if true, it again shows the progress we are making.

14:24 First question is on the success of Russia on the medals table. "A home team performing well is always good for the Games." The progress they have made is remarkable.

14:22 Volunteers are next to receive praise - "they gave you smiles but also the correct information," he says.

14:17 Bach speaks about the record number of participants and NOC's - 88 now after India's re-inclusion. We also have record numbers of doping tests - and hove exceeded our target of 57 per cent of improvement on Vancouver 2010. High quality target-testing as well as more quantity, it is added.

Success with regards to television coverage and Olympic scholarships is also hailed.

14:14 "We are close to the end of a great Winter Games," says Thomas Bach in his opening remarks. "I had the opportunity to spend four night's in Olympic Villages and meet athletes - there was not a single complaint from anybody."

"What impressed them most was the proximity of Olympic Villages and venues."

14:10 A highlights video of the entire Games to open proceedings today. Complete with a very atmospheric drum roll...

CAS dismiss appeal against French ski-cross medal winners 

13:55 The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals of Canada and Slovenia to have the three French men's ski cross medallists disqualified for wearing modified race suits.

An overnight hearing held by the CAS ad-hoc division dismissed the protests filed against the outfits worn by Jean Frederic Chapuis, Arnaud Bovolena and Jonathan Midol - respective winners of the gold, silver and bronze medals.

The first application to CAS came from the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association (CFSA) and Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the second from the Slovenian Olympic Committee (SOC).

Each had made official protests to the International Ski Federation (FIS) about the legs of the ski suits worn by the French skiers.

The CFSA, COC and SOC alleged that the French athletes changed their attire just before the big final to gain an aerodynamic effect created by the shaping of the lower section of the ski pants, contrary to the International Freestyle Skiing competition rules.

However, FIS ruled that the protests could not be entertained because they were not "filed on time after the race".

13:46 Latvia are just 0.04 seconds behind as Germany fall to third place. 

13:35 And there could be more to come - Russia have crossed the line in 55.02 seconds to post a total time of 2:45.21.

13:26 With that news Russian have increased their lead at the top of the medals table. 

Legkov leads cross-country clean sweep for Russia

Russia celebrate after a clean sweep of the podium ©Getty Images



12:50 Alexander Legkov wins the 50km mass-start gold medal in a Russian 1-2-3! Quite possibly the loudest reaction of the Games so far in the press room as he pulled away from Maxim Vylegzhanin and Ilia Chernousov on the final straight.

Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway was fourth, one second behind the winner, as a photo finish was required to separate silver and bronze.

12:48 A group of four has broken clear - and three of them are Russian!

12:43 Now Daniel Richardsson of Sweden now leads but there is a group - including several Russian athletes - grouping behind. The atmosphere is really building now...

12:38 Getting to the business end of the skiing now. The pack is back together with Sweden's Anders Soedergren in the lead. 

Positive test for Austrian Duerr

12:26 A bit more reaction to that positive earlier - the fifth of the Games but the first for a product such as EPO and the first where there has been no attempt to blame the drug use of a contaminated supplement. 

Austria Olympic Committee President Karl Stoss says "we are shocked by this announcement and took the appropriate measures right away" - adding that the athlete has been dropped from the team and sent home.

Johannes Duerr has also told Austrian television:  "I cannot make up for this but I want to apologize because this is the worst thing I've done in my life."

The 26-year-old enjoyed arguably the best result of his career to come eighth in the skiathlon on his Olympic debut last week - after a best of 15th in the event as World Championship level. He has now been stripped of that result.

12:10 Michail Semenov of Belarus has opened up a bit of day light here after 30km of the cross country. But, rather like a marathon race you feel like gaps could be closed more easily than over shorter distances - as pace judgement is so important. 

11:56 The men's cross country has been going for over 50 minutes but they are only halfway. A gruelling race but also a great spectacle in lovely conditions up at the Laura cross country centre. Lari Lehtonen of Finland leads the pack through 25km but a lot of skiing left. 

CAS decision on men's ski-cross expected this afternoon

11:42 The Canada Freestyle Ski Association and the Canadian and Slovenian Olympic Committees are seeking the disqualification of French medallists Jean Frederic Chapuis - gold, Arnaud Bovolenta - silver and Jonathan Midol - bronze, from the men's ski cross held on Thursday 20 February.

It is alleged that, shortly before the big final, French support staff changed the shaping of the lower leg suits of their skiers, creating an unfair aerodynamic advantage.

The Court of the Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to announce the decision by 14:00 on Sunday 23 February.

Both Canada and Slovenia had earlier protested the result to FIS, which ruled the protests had not been filed on time.

Closing Ceremony preview 

Konstantin Ernst wearing the five, or rather four, Olympic Rings tee shirt
©Andy Miah/Instagram



11:25 Unsurprisingly no much has been given away in terms of what will be in this evening's Ceremony. 

Ernst says: "The Closing Ceremony should be different in tone from the Opening one. The Opening Ceremony triggered 17 days of intensive sport, The Closing Ceremony is different and should be imbued with an optimistic wistfulness