On 20 February 2014 , the Ukrainian NOC reported that as many as half of the Ukrainian athletes at the Olympics had left the games to return home . But according to Ukrainian NOC president Sergey Bubka they had returned home in compliance with their original schedule , and their departure was thus not related to the riots in Kiev . According to Bubka , the remaining athletes did plan to participate in the closing ceremony . In a statement on 20 February 2014 , the Ukrainian team had expressed condolences for the dead and stated , " We are thinking about our families and loved ones back home in Ukraine , and we are doing our best to honour them on the fields of play here in Sochi . We appeal for peace and mutual understanding to find a positive way forward for Ukraine "
closing ceremony
2014 Winter Olympics closing ceremony
Ukraine at the 2014 Winter Olympics