What is the appropriate decorum for wearing the olive wreath during the Medal Cer
What is the appropriate decorum for wearing the olive wreath during the Medal Cer
What is the appropriate decorum for wearing the olive wreath during the Medal Ceremonies at the Olympics? Is the wreath considered a hat? Should it therefore be removed?
Most of the athletes don't seem to have any clue once the wreath is placed on their heads.
You mean the laurel wreath?
Yes, the "laurel wreath" if that's what you call it.
Does that mean if you sit on one of those wreaths, you're resting on your laurels?
I think it should be removed for the national anthem!
Well I suppose it could be considered being in uniform and thus wouldn't need to be removed.
The protocol for the Victory Ceremony as prescribed in the “Olympic Charter” is as follows: The President of the IOC (or her/his designate) accompanied by the President of the International Federation (or her/his designate) concerned shall present the medals immediately after the event at the site of the competition if possible. The winners, dressed in their official uniforms, shall stand on the stadium facing the stand of honor. The first place winner shall be slightly above the second who is on her/his right, and the third who is on her/his left. The flag of the winner’s delegation shall be hoisted on the central flagpole and those of the second and third on adjoining flagpole on the right and left as they face the arena. Meanwhile, an abbreviated version of the national anthem of the winner’s delegation is played while the three competitors and spectators shall face the flags.
NOTE: Athletes crowned with laurel wreath should consider the wreath an award. Thus it is widely accepted that the laurel wreath may remain on the head while showing respect for the national anthem of the winner’s delegation.
I'm of the belief that it's a hat, thus should be removed. I can understand differing opinions, but saw one of the US guys take it off (well, actually put it on after) and thought "That guy's a class act."
The laurel wreath predates the US by 2300 years and ranks as a world honor superceding nation state patronage which didn't even exist as a concept until the Treaty of Westphalia. The real class act is to honor the far more ancient rite of being crowned an Olympic Champion.