The medal count for Britain is at six in total - one gold, one silver and four bronze, which really is a remarkable achievement.

Like many others, I was thrilled to watch Britain's Neil Simpson win gold in the men’s super-G vision impaired alongside his brother Andrew, who guided him through the course.

I was equally delighted for visually impaired skier Menna Fitzpatrick, who added two more medals to her collection. 

She now has six medals in total, on top of the four she won in Pyeongchang in 2018, making her Britain’s most-decorated Winter Paralympian.

And history was made when Ollie Hill secured Britain's first Paralympic snowboard medal with a bronze in the banked slalom LL2 event. 

I, alongside fans across the UK, have been hooked on the action on TV and I am so proud of what our athletes have achieved, especially considering the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on training and now competing against the backdrop of a barbaric war.

I feel I must also take a moment to recognise the bravery and dignity of the Ukrainian Paralympic team who have continued to throw everything they have into the competition, despite President Putin inflicting terrible and unnecessary suffering on their countrymen and women.

Through the fear and uncertainty of what they will return home to, the Ukrainian athletes are in second place with 29 medals, behind only the hosts China. 

Day four of the Games was particularly moving when Ukrainian athletes completed two podium sweeps at the National Biathlon Centre, a day when hope triumphed in the face of adversity.

I want to congratulate the Ukrainian Paralympic team on their great success on the world stage. 

They should know that we stand behind them and against President Putin’s unjust and unlawful invasion of their country.

Alongside following Channel 4's stellar coverage of the Games, on Thursday, I was fortunate enough to catch up with five members of Britain's Paralympic team over video - Hope Gordon, Millie Knight, Steve Thomas, Meggan Dawson-Farrell and Gary Smith. 

I heard first-hand about their experiences in Beijing, the challenges they have faced being disabled in the UK and how accessibility can be improved in sport. 

It really was uplifting to hear how these wonderful athletes have overcome barriers to represent their country on the world stage and as Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health, I want to see more people following their shining example.

And it’s not just on the ice and snow of Beijing where we’ve been breaking down barriers of disability. 

In a world first, Channel 4's coverage of the Games has featured expert analysis from an entirely disabled presenting line-up, including Britain's Paralympic champions Ellie Robinson and Lauren Steadman. 

This has been a momentous milestone for broadcasting in the UK and is further helping to change and challenge the perceptions of disabled people in society.

We shouldn’t underestimate the impact of seeing disabled people at the forefront of sport, whether they’re competing or presenting on our television screens.

Representation is vital for progression and I have no doubt that the next Paralympic athletes, TV talent and sports fans have been inspired by what they’ve seen over the course of the Beijing Games.

And I am proud that this Government is right behind our talented athletes succeeding at the highest levels of sport, especially as we look ahead to the Paris Games in 2024. 

We will be investing £77.4 million ($100 million/€92 million) per year in Olympic and Paralympic sports until the competition begins.

Ensuring disabled people have equal opportunities is key to an inclusive society and we are committed to levelling up the playing field beyond sport too.

In our levelling up white paper, we have announced a £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion/€1.5 billion) package of support to improve the lives of disabled people across the UK in all aspects of life, including more accessible public transport, better welfare support, and better employment and housing opportunities.

I can say with confidence too that we are making progress on our promises to deliver for disabled people.

Some recent highlights include a new "Access to Work" pilot scheme to ease the transition for disabled students when they leave university and enter the workforce, a consultation on the encouragement and support of flexible working and a passenger-assistant app to boost accessibility on public transport.

For many, the Closing Ceremony will mark the end of a spectacular winter of sport, after a particularly challenging few years. 

The action is far from over though as we look forward to hosting two key sporting events later this year; the Commonwealth Games will take place in July in Birmingham which will feature the largest fully-integrated Para sport programme to date, followed by the Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup in October.

And looking beyond 2022, through their efforts in Beijing, our outstanding winter Paralympic athletes have inspired thousands of young people across the UK to break down barriers and prove that nothing is off limits. 

You did us proud, ParalympicsGB.