Medal ceremonies
After each Olympic event is completed a medal ceremony is held. The
summer games would usually conduct the ceremonies immediately after the
event at the respective venues, whereas the winter editions would
present the medals at a nightly victory ceremony held at a medal plaza. A
three–tiered rostrum is used for the three medal winners, with the gold
medal winner ascending to the highest platform. The medals are awarded
by a member of the IOC.
After medals are distributed, the flags of the nations of the three
medalists are raised. The flag of the gold medalist's country is in the
center and raised the highest while the flag of the silver medalist's
country is on the left facing the flags and the flag of the bronze
medalist's country is on the right, both at lower elevations than the
gold medalist's country's flag. The flags are raised while the national anthem of the gold medalist's country plays. Citizens of the host country also act as hosts during the medal
ceremonies. They aid the officials who present the medals and act as
flag bearers.