New traditions

The medal award ceremony is an essential component of the emotion and spectacle of the Olympic Games. It involves the top three athletes or teams in each event taking their places on a podium. The third-placed athlete or team stands to the left of the winner, on the lowest step of the podium, and receives the bronze medal. Next, the runner-up takes their place on the next-highest step, to the winner’s right, and is awarded the silver medal. Finally, the winner climbs onto the highest platform, in the centre, and receives the gold medal, along with the title of Olympic champion. The winner’s national anthem is then played as the flags of the countries of all three athletes or teams on the podium are raised.

This ceremony protocol has remained largely unchanged since it was introduced at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1932. In earlier Games, a simple flag raising took place at the main stadium, without the medal-winning athletes present. That changed at Los Angeles 1932, when it was announced that such ceremonies would take place only if the athletes in question were present at the Olympic Stadium. Medal ceremonies for events held at other venues were conducted at the Olympic Stadium the following day. The new format proved an instant hit with both the athletes and the public, with more than 90 per cent of medal winners turning up to receive their accolades.