Jamaica’s medal prospects at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics including double Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah, will put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus.
This very significant change to traditional medal ceremonies in the 339 events slated this month, was revealed today by the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
He said today at an international media conference call from Tokyo, that the medals will not be given around the neck, they will be presented to the athletes on a tray and then the athlete will take the medal him or herself.
It will be made sure that the person who will put the medal on the tray, will do so only with disinfected gloves, so that the athletes can be sure that nobody touch them before.
The Olympic approach is different to soccer in Europe, where UEFA President
Aleksander Ceferin has personally hung medals around the necks of players, after the final on Sunday.