To think female athletes don't need to be kissed by those presenting them with their medals?

[worldsworstchildren]

Watching some of the women's medal ceremonies I wonder if any of them enjoy beong kissed by the (old) men handing over their medals?
All of the women on the podium looked really awkward and it was obviously done out of politeness (on their part).
Years and years of hard work and that's their reward? Yuck!

[Amelie10]

Oh fgs!

[Branleuse]

kissing is politeness in tonnes of cultures, much like shaking hands. I dont see the big deal. Theyre not going in with tongues

[FeckinCrutches]

The men get kissed as well?

[Queenbean]

I like being kissed on congrats and presentation of an award.

I presume the male athletes get kissed by female presenters too?

[PinkyofPie]

I wouldn't like it I have to say but do the men also get kissed?

[FeckinCrutches]

The men do get kissed on presentation of their medal too

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

I don't think it's an issue.

Hardly 'yuck'.

[worldsworstchildren]

It just seemed to labour the point to me. They bent forward for medal to be put over their heads, stood up again to shake hands and then had to lean down again for the kiss.
I didn't think of the cultural angle actually so that could have a bearing I suppose.
I didn't know female presenters kissed male winners, interesting that I didn't notice that.
Anyway it wouldn't appeal to me but I'm unlikely to ever be in that situation

[DPotter]

Some cultures have a tradition of kissing on the cheek by way of greeting. In France there is a hierarchy of kisses, so one kiss - an acquaintance, 2 kisses (one of each cheek) a friend and 3 kisses alternating sides - close friend / family.
There's nothing un-toward about it.

[VestalVirgin]

Some cultures have a tradition of kissing on the cheek by way of greeting.

Some cultures. It does not logically follow that all winning athletes should have to kiss some random men.
(Or at least have the male athletes also kiss men. Then we will see if it is actually culture, or just sexism.)

[WardrobeMalfunction]

I'm with you on this , OP. In interactions where, say a male presenter meets a man and a woman, the man will get a handshake and the woman will get a kiss. It's fundamentally sexist if we greet people differently because of their sex.

I am very uncomfortable with people in my personal space, so while I will shake hands with anyone, I really hate enduring even air-kisses from people I'm not close to. Fortunately, I'll never be on an Olympoc podium trying to swerve away from unwanted contact

[specialsubject]

Both genders get kissed.

[worldsworstchildren]

Thank you Vestal and Wardrobe you've explained my feelings far better than I did in my OP.

[PinkyofPie]

I agree with Vestal, it's fine to observe it as culture but to be entirely uncomfortable with it. My mother lived in France for a while and I detested meeting her friends (most of whom were English) because they kissed me. Just because it's nothing I towards doesn't mean I have to lie it and I suspect many female athletes dislike but tolerate it

[Branleuse]

Sometimes we all have to do polite stuff we'd rather not. Im sure theyll survive it.

[limitedperiodonly]

Those old pervs do it so they can stare down the athletes' tops as they bend forward.

I'm also shocked that every medal winner gets a complimentary ash tray. At sporting event too. Haven't the Brazilians heard how bad cigarettes are for you?

[WellErrr]

limited they're paperweights.

OP I was thinking this too.

And no, the male athletes don't have to kiss old men to get their medals.

[NameChange30]

"In France there is a hierarchy of kisses, so one kiss - an acquaintance, 2 kisses (one of each cheek) a friend and 3 kisses alternating sides - close friend / family."

This might be true of the French people you've met, but it's not true for any of the French people I know (which is a lot). Most people have a set number of bise (usually 2 but sometimes 3 or even 4) and the variation is down to the region you're from, not how well you know the person or how close you are. The worst thing is that some people start on the left cheek, others on the right, which means that you never know which way to go first and sometimes end up accidentally leaning in for a snog

Maybe it's very English of me, but I dislike kissing strangers on the cheeks. I wouldn't be surprised if it made some of the Olympic athletes (male and female) feel uncomfortable too. A kiss and a handshake seems like overkill to me. If it was up for me I'd ditch the kissing!

[StylishDuck]

If that's an ashtray it's the shittiest ashtray ever limited

[limitedperiodonly]

Are they paperweights WellErr? I admit I wasn't looking too closely, what with being outraged at the kissing.

Never mind. I'll transfer my shock to Brazil promoting the use of paper instead. You'd think that with the parlous state of the rainforests, and they've got a big one, they'd know better.

[PinkyofPie]

ARF at the athletes winning ash trays

[SawdustInMyHair]

I've seen a lot of men being 'kissed' too.

But it's not a proper kiss, it's an air kiss. And not all the people I've seen doing it (the presenters) are men, either. A woman kissed the men after at least one of the canoeing.

I think you would be reasonable if it was the case, but it's not so U.

[SawdustInMyHair]

Those old pervs do it so they can stare down the athletes' tops as they bend forward.

Unlikely, as everyone getting a medal has to wear their country's tracksuit (rather than the kit they wore to compete), zipped up.

[limitedperiodonly]

I've watched loads of the Olympics and noticed that some of the men got a kiss too. But I failed to notice the sex of the kisser or whether there was the option of a firm handshake. That was very inobservant of me

I'm watching the men's marathon at the moment and will be sure to see what happens at the medal ceremony. I think it's the final event so it'll be my last chance. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[DrinkMilkAndKickAss]

I'm more irritated by the silly jackets the women have to wear for their medal ceremonies! GB must be the only country with gendered, 'fashion' tracksuit tops - why can't they (as the men do) just wear normal sports tops?!