- Olympic medal-winners will have to put the medals on themselves at the podium this year.
- In past years a medal bearer would place the medals on the Olympians during the ceremonies.
- But social distancing mandates in Japan means bearers will hand athletes the medals on a tray.
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The Olympic medal ceremonies won't have the same level of service this year.
Social distancing mandates in Japan will prevent medal bearers from placing medals on the Olympians on the podiums. The champions will have to put their medals on themselves, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.
"The medals will not be given around the neck," Bach said during a press conference on Wednesday. "They will be presented to the athlete 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 tray will do so only with disinfected gloves so that the athlete can be sure that nobody touched them before."
Additionally, Bach confirmed that athletes would not be allowed to give handshakes or hugs during the ceremonies.
The IOC originally planned to run the medal ceremonies traditionally and have officials and the athletes wear masks.
However, escalating COVID-19 cases in Japan have forced more drastic precautions for the Olympics.
Tokyo reported 1,149 new cases Wednesday, the highest case total in Japan's capital since the city hit 1,184 cases on Jan. 22, according to The Associated Press.
The country is currently in a state of emergency, which will last throughout the Olympics.
The IOC announced that the games would run without spectators, reversing the previous plan allowing domestic fans at 50% of a venue's capacity. Bach said at the time, the safety measure reflects the consistent commitment of games organizers to place public health needs at the forefront of decisions.