International Olympic Comittee president Thomas Bach hailed the efforts by the Russian government, especially Russian president Vladimir Putin, as the Sochi Winter Olympic Games closed on Sunday night in the costal city of Russia.

"In all big events, of course, a country, and when I say a country also the political leadership, hopefully benefits from the event," Bach told a press conference on Sunday afternoon before the closing ceremony.

"Mr Putin has been playing an important role in the preparation of these Games, not only him but the whole Russian government.

"If that would not have been the case we would sit here in a very different mood, because only with this effort by the government and by the Russian people was such a big success possible."

The 17-day Sochi Games saw a record number of 2,876 athletes from 88 countries and regions taking part. Host country Russia topped the medal tally with 13 gold medals, 11 silver and nine bronze.

According to the IOC, a record number of 2,631 doping tests were carried during the Games and 88,000 hours of television coverage were broadcast through more than 300 channels.

Five positive cases were found through the doping tests in Sochi.

Bach said the Sochi Games had received glowing praise from athletes and officials.

"There was not a single complaint by any of the athletes," Bach said.

"They loved the sports facilities, the quality of the Olympic villages and what impressed the most was the proximity of the Olympic villages and their venues."

China ranked the 12th at the final gold medal tally with three golds, four silvers and two bronzes.