The 69-year-old, who is famed for his role as The Terminator, is an Honorary President of Special Olympics Austria and delivered a moving speech as part of proceedings.  

"I’m so happy that you are all here, because you are all the greatest athletes in the world," Schwarzenegger said.

"And I’m really proud of these Games - they were the best and biggest in history."

The show, which lasted approximately one-and-a-half hours and was witnessed by an audience of more than 15,000, offered a mix of elements typically associated with the mountainous, forested state of Styria.

It also included international dance and acrobatics performances by the likes of Cirque du Soleil artists and Dutch-American world dancing champion Louis van Amstel.

Austrian singer Rose May Alaba then performed the Coca-Cola Unified Song "Can you feel it" before Soviet-born German artist Helene Fischer took to the stage and presented the official anthem of the Games, "Fighter".

The handing over of the Special Olympics flag to the next Games’ hosts Abu Dhabi was carried out by Special Olympics Austria President Jürgen Winter

The United Arab Emirates’ capital also delivered a presentation on what to expect in 2019.

"The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 were the Games of all Games," Winter said.

"Austria could show how cordial its people as well as its culture can be.

"In the future, we need to seize this launch vehicle to further the cause for people with mental impairments and move a step forward to a change of the whole of society."

Schwarzenegger’s speech came after 13-year-old America's Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal had performed her two songs "I don't know my name" and "Light the sky".

Earlier this week, the Austrian-American actor hit back emphatically at a Facebook user who suggested there should not be a Special Olympics.

Commenting on a video posted by Schwarzenegger showing athletes from the Games that he says "inspire" him, the commentator posted: "The Special Olympics make no sense. 

"The Olympics are for the best athletes in the entire world to compete against each other to determine who is the best. 

"Having r****** competing is doing the opposite!"

In response, Schwarzenegger wrote: "As evil and stupid as this comment is, I'm not going to delete it or ban you (yet) because it's a teachable moment.

"You have two possible paths ahead.

"Right now, I guarantee you that these athletes have more courage, compassion, brains and skill - actually more of every positive human quality than you.

"So take their path - you could learn from them, and try to challenge yourself, to give back, to add something to the world.

"Or you can stay on your path, and keep being a sad pitiful jealous Internet troll who adds nothing to the world but mocks anyone who does out of small-minded jealousy.

"I know that all you really want is attention, so let me be clear.

"If you choose to keep going this way, no one will ever remember you."

The original comment, as Schwarzenegger suggested, has now been deleted

"Heartbeat for the world" was the motto of this year’s edition of the Games, the largest worldwide winter sports event for people with mental impairments.

More than 2,600 athletes from 105 nations competed across eight days of competition, which resulted in about 1,000 medals being awarded.

The event lasted for 12 days in its entirety.