With the first medals awarded at the Winter Olympics, the internet exploded with a question: why were athletes given teddy bears, with no sign of their hard-won gold, silver or bronze medallions?

If I were an Olympic athlete that just medaled, I would be lowkey mad that my podium picture was with a cheap teddy bear and not my medal🤷🏻‍♂️#OlympicGames2018 — Reid Olash (@reid_olash) February 14, 2018

is anyone going to talk about how the olympic athletes are getting teddy bears instead of medals — the fake slim shady (@j111201) February 11, 2018

Immediately after winning their events, athletes stand on a podium as a procession of women wrapped in red coats bring out three trays of plush toys in the shape of the official Olympic mascot.

It turns out it is not a “teddy bear” at all, but a white tiger considered a guardian animal in Korean mythology.

The arrangement has led to awkward images of emotional athletes beaming mere minutes after becoming Olympic champions, standing on a podium with an unfamiliar plush toy.

A similar version of the toy sells for 25,000 Korean won (£16.70) at the official Olympic store and is made in China.

In previous years athletes have been given flowers, with medals given out immediately after events in the summer Games.

Athletes in Pyeongchang do eventually get medals, but at a joint ceremony later in the evening.

“The flower ceremony, or in this case the cuddly toy ceremony, is a longstanding tradition,” said Mark Adams, director of communications for the International Olympic Committee. “With the outdoor events it’s quite obvious,” he added, referring to the subzero temperatures at many mountain venues.

The practice of staging a small ceremony immediately after winter events started at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.