'Magical' Italian Games close with party in ancient Verona Arena

(Photo credit: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner)

VERONA, Italy -- Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.

The Games, formally co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, have been spread across a large area of northern Italy and passed off smooth