The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has warned athletes are not exempt from the strict COVID-19 rules in place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games here after swimmers were seen taking off their masks and hugging other competitors on the podium.
IOC Presidential spokesperson Mark Adams urged athletes to follow the COVID-19 rules, which state Olympic participants must wear masks at all times, except for when competing, training, eating, or sleeping. They have been allowed to briefly take them off on the podium for 30 seconds for a photo opportunity, however.
Competitors at the Games have also been told to limit social contact with other athletes and avoid taking group photos on the podium.
Read Also: Osun shuts bar for violating COVID-19 protocols
Under the regulations for medal ceremonies, athletes have been told to stay on their own podium step and keep a distance from their fellow medallists.
All 12 athletes from Australia, Canada, and the United States on the podium for the women’s 4×100 metres freestyle relay did not have their faces covered and were spotted hugging.
The three medallists in the men’s 400m individual medley – newly-crowed Olympic champion American Chase Kalisz, compatriot Jay Literland, who was second, and Australian Brendon Smith – were seen without masks.
Kalisz and Literland were also seen hugging each other following the victory ceremony.
Leave a Reply