Can athletes at the Tokyo Olympic Games take off their masks when they receive their awards?

The Epidemic Prevention Manual formulated before the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games stipulates that all athletes "must always wear masks" when receiving awards.

However, the International Olympic Committee suddenly announced yesterday (25th) that it would revise the "Epidemic Prevention Manual" of the Tokyo Olympic Games, allowing athletes who won medals to take off their masks for a short time. Mark adams, spokesman of the International Olympic Committee, insisted that the winning athletes "must" wear masks when accepting the prize when answering questions from media reporters earlier on 25th. ? However, in the men's 400-meter individual medley final held on the 25th, Calix, runner-up of Rio Olympic Games and world champion, won the first gold medal of this Olympic Games for the United States. As a result, Calix and the silver and bronze medal winners took off their masks when they received the award, which caused controversy.

At the press conference after the game, Calix explained that when receiving the prize, someone opposite the three of them held a sign asking them to take off their masks, so they did it, not intentionally violating the epidemic prevention regulations. ? It is understood that since the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games, many award-winning athletes have been dissatisfied with the "mask order". Therefore, on the advice of public health experts, the International Olympic Committee made an amendment on the 25th. From that day on, athletes who won medals were allowed to "take off their masks and let media reporters take pictures while standing on their respective podium"-this new regulation applies to all the next events held in the Tokyo Olympic venues.

The International Olympic Committee said that for athletes, winning Olympic medals is a unique moment in their sports career, and they want to smile and show their emotions. However, the winning athletes must wear masks when they stand together on the gold medal podium for a group photo.