Tokyo Olympics 2021: Gold medallists standing on podiums with masks is ludicrous, writes Will Swanton

In years to come, when Olympic gold medallists watching their podium moment with their grandkids, it will be tainted unnecessarily by one ridiculous thing.

The record-breaking Australian relay team

The most ludicrous sight of the Olympics is gold medallists in masks while the anthems are played and flags are run up the pole.

What you don’t see at home is this — as soon as the television cameras are turned off, the masks are removed anyway.

While the medallists are still on the podium. It’s ridiculous.

The greatest moment of a gold medallist’s life … and he or she wears a mask to the podium, keeps it on while receiving the medal, whips the mask off for 30 seconds for photographs, puts it back on during the highly emotional ritual of the flag and anthem … but then takes it off because supposedly nobody’s looking.

In years to come, when they look back at the footage with their grandkids, it will be tainted unnecessarily by these masks.

Medallists are standing more than 1.5m apart on specially designed podiums that are massive. No one else is anywhere near them.

They’ve already hugged and back-slapped and breathed all over each other in the pool. If not, they’re about to do it when the formalities are over.

They get to remove their masks for photos while on the podium, so it’s absurd for them to have them on 30 seconds earlier.

Our swimmers with their masks on after their gold medal win. Picture: AFP Photo

It’s a terrible look. When Japan’s Yui Ohashi had the wonderful moment of her country’s first gold, she looked like she was about to suffocate in her mask while choking on her tears.

It’s nearly as ridiculous as the medallists having to put medals around their own necks.

If the IOC member is that much of a risk, get he or she to wear gloves.

It would be symbolic to get the masks off for the crescendo moment of the anthems.

A pocket of freedom, sensibly done.

AUSSIE GOLDEN GIRLS CLEARED OF WRONGDOING IN MASK DRAMA

Jacqueline Magnay

The International Olympic Committee has conceded ground and allowed winning athletes to take their masks off on the podium for 30 seconds for photographs.

The move came after the IOC initially warned athletes to follow the Covid rules after medal-winning swimmers, including Australia’s gold medal 4 x 100m freestylers, along with US and Tunisian swimmers, were photographed hugging without wearing masks.

US and French supporters were also cheering loudly at the pool, prompting a warning from the IOC at midday that athletes should follow the COVID rules – which order athletes to stay 1.5m apart, and bans handshakes, high-fives, hugs and cheering. Athletes are even required to put their medals around their own necks to avoid cross-contamination.

Gold medallists (from L) Australia's Bronte Campbell, Australia's Meg Harris, Australia's Emma McKeon and Australia's Cate Campbell

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said on Sunday there had been no relaxation of the rules.

He said the IOC “urged and asked’’ teams to obey the rules.

“It’s not a ‘nice to have’, it’s a ‘must have’,’’ he said at the daily briefing.

He said the IOC understood how the rules impacted on the competitors, saying “we feel for the athletes.’’

The issue would be discussed at the daily chef de mission meetings in the athletes’ village.

“It’s in everyone’s interests we do obey the rules,’’ he said.

But swimmers hit back, saying they had not broken the rules and were following officials’ instructions.

The swimmers said a volunteer had a sign saying ‘’mask on” and “mask off” for various points of the medal ceremonies, mainly to allow the photographers, positioned 10m away, to get photos of their faces.

Do not hug: The IOC has warned all athletes

The US winner of the 400m individual medley Chase Kalisz said: “there was someone holding a sign saying ‘mask on’ and one with ‘mask off’, so that’s what I did. Hopefully I followed everything right. Ideally I wear my mask as much as possible, I just followed some guy holding the sign”.

The Australian Olympic Committee also confirmed that Australia’s medal winning swimmers Brendon Smith and Jack McLoughlin and the world record breaking women’s relay team had not broken any rules.

“IOC indicates there’s a new policy that allows for athletes to take masks off for 30 seconds at the podium for photographs. Then masks go back on,’’ the AOC said.

“Our athletes were simply following the direction of the official at the podium, who holds up a sign saying masks off briefly for the photographs. That’s what our girls did.

“The IOC has confirmed this and there’s nothing wrong with athletes doing this. They are following the policy. This will be communicated to media and via the IOC website this afternoon.’’