Lyrical End to Games

Clowns take to the stage during closing ceremonies at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. The ceremony was dubbed “Carnevale Italiano.”  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Derek Parra, originally from San Bernadino, is hoisted into the air at the end of closing ceremonies.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Sarah Owens leans on her mother Lynn, of Kentucky, during closing ceremonies of the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy Sunday. To the left of Lynn is husband Jim taking a picture.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Members of the brides that formed a dove of light during the closing ceremonies enjoy the moment in Turin.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A snowboarding-on-air performer floats above the stage on a tunnel of wind during closing ceremonies.  (Alan Hagman / LAT)

U.S. speedskater Joey Cheek carries the American flag during the closing ceremonies.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

U.S. speedskater Joey Cheek is all smiles during closing ceremonies of the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

A protester is removed after he interupted the speech by the president of TOROC Valentino Castellani, left, during the closing ceremony.  (Jasper Juinen / AP)

Canada’s gold medallist in the 1500m speed skating, Cindy Klassen waves during the closing ceremony.  (Jeff Haynes AFP/Getty Images)

Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater and winner of the bronze medal in women’s figure skating, waves to the crowd.  (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

U.S. men’s 1000m speedskating gold medallist Shani Davis (C) smiles during the closing ceremony.  (Jeff Haynes AFP/Getty Images)

Japanese figure skater and gold medallist Shiuzuka Arakawa poses with her medal and members of the Japanes team.  (Javier Soriano AFP/Getty Images)

A general view through the Olympic rings inside of the stadium during the closing ceremony of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games.  (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)

Artist dangle from up high, performing during the closing ceremony of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics.  (Clive Rose / Getty Images)

With a dreamlike, Fellini-style circus of clowns and acrobats, Turin bids arrivederci to the Winter Games.  (AFP / Getty Images)

An actor takes part in an Olympics closing ceremony, which doubled as Carnevale, at Turin.  (AFP/Getty Images)

Closing ceremonies for the Winter Games in Turin were marked by dizzying array of circus acts, parades and carnival shenanigans.  (AFP/Getty Images)

A performer roller blades with fire coming out of his helmet during the closing ceremony.  (Alan Hagman / LAT)

An overhead look at the stage, and the entrance of Italian actress Valeria Marini.  (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)

Card-carrying actors perform during the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.  (Jeff Heynes AFP/Getty Images)

398 brides, each holding a lamp, were part of the theatrical production during closing ceremonies.  (Alan Hagman / LAT)

Singer Avril Lavigne, perhaps a nod to the next Olympic host in Canada, performs during the closing ceremonies.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)