Athletes complain of FOOD shortages in Olympic Village after they were promised dishes prepared by Michelin-starred chefs
Athletes are complaining about food shortages in the Olympic Village in Paris after they were promised Michelin-starred dishes.
Olympians claim the amount of food available in the canteen is insufficient, according to the French newspaper The team reported just six days after the market opened to competitors.
Eggs and grilled meat had to be rationed during the breakfast service on Wednesday.
The Olympic Village’s catering partner, Sodexo Live!, said it had taken the feedback “seriously” and noted that volumes would be increased to “meet the needs of the athletes” after noting “very high demand for certain products”.
The Carrefour group, which is responsible for purchasing 600 tonnes of fresh produce for the Olympic Games, confirmed that, based on ‘the first assessments of the meals consumed, a request has been made to increase the quantities originally planned. The group will be able to comply with this request.’
People walk in front of the canteen of the Olympic Village at the Athletes Village of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Saint Denis, France on Tuesday. The Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024 in Paris
IOC President Thomas Bach tries food from a salad bar during a tour of the Olympic Village in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday
Light chocolate-raspberry mousse and crispy tuile dishes by French chef Stephane Chicheri, CEO of Sodexo Live, are on display. The company has been tasked with serving 40,000 meals a day in the Olympic Village
As the 15,000 international Olympic and Paralympic athletes from 208 different countries who will take part in this year’s Games arrive in the French capital ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, the event’s catering industry is preparing to serve more than 13 million meals over the next month.
This follows reports that the menu at the Olympic Village was prepared by top chefs, a far cry from when McDonald’s sponsored the sporting event.
Michelin-starred chefs Amandine Chaignot, Alexandre Mazzia and Akrame Benallal are among the top French chefs who helped create the menu at the 3,500-seat restaurant in the Olympic Village.
In addition to the more classic French dishes, there are also salad bars, fruit stalls, a cheese stall, desserts, soups, daily specials and a buffet.
About 80 percent of the food comes from France and 100 percent of the meat comes from French suppliers.
Chef of the Olympic Village of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Charles Guilloy of Sodexo Live!, poses in Rungis, near Paris
The International Olympic Committee had determined that the food had to be local, primarily plant-based and focused on minimal waste.
Nearly two-thirds of the 500 dishes on offer are vegetarian. There are also meatless options, such as boeuf bourguignon and ‘not-dogs’, a meatless option with onions and pickled cabbage with honey-mustard sauce.
Leftover coffee is distributed among those in need and used coffee grounds are reused for fertilizer.
The sustainable menu aims to meet the diverse cultural, religious and dietary needs of athletes while highlighting French gastronomy.