Italy to say 'arrivederci' with closing ceremony in ancient Verona Arena

VERONA, Italy, Feb 22 : Italy will bring down the curtain on two weeks of scintillating Olympic sporting action on Sunday with a closing ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena amphitheatre.

The show, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT), is entitled "Beauty in Action" and will feature leading Italian ballet dancer Roberto Bolle and celebrate Italian art as well as sporting achievement.

With the Olympic medals won and lost, the tone is expected to be more relaxed and free-wheeling than the opening ceremony. 

Italian singer Achille Lauro and DJ/producer Gabry Ponte will be there to get the party going while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be among the crowd.

The ceremony is being held in an open-air Roman amphitheatre renowned for staging opera and pop concerts in the heart of the northern Italian city made famous as the setting for William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet".

Tickets were priced from 950 euros ($1,120) to a top level of 2,900 euros. The weather has been kind, with no rain forecast.

The Games, co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, have been hailed a success by new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, and the mood has been lifted by a record medal haul for the Italians.

However, protesters opposed to staging the Games are expected to demonstrate close to the Arena on Sunday.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

The Games have followed a new blueprint, with sporting events spread over a wide area of northern Italy. Feedback from athletes has been positive.

"I would say ... to Italy, I think that they did an absolutely fantastic job hosting the Olympics," said U.S. freestyle skier Christopher Lillis, praising the venues, the food and the friendly atmosphere.

"So I want to give a huge shout-out to them, because