Complaints Arise About the Food at Olympic Village: A Look at Why Olympians Were Left Unhappy
With the 2024 Olympic Games in full swing, fans and viewers from around the world can’t get enough of hearing about the athletes. Many have also taken an interest in what life is like for competitors during their time at Olympic Village. One aspect of the experience that has drawn the most attention is dining, thanks to complaints that prompted a change from organizers. Read on below to learn more about the recent issues with food at Olympic Village, as well as what some athletes have had to say about the quality.
What was causing outrage over the food at Olympic Village?
Last week, several delegations at the 2024 Games complained about both the quality and quantity of the food being served at Olympic Village. The catering firm Sodexo is reportedly expected to serve 40,000 meals each day to 15,000 athletes, which means there is quite the demand.
Initially, organizers shared that the primary focus would be on serving fresh produce grown mostly in France. In fact, it's said that the company Carrefour is providing more than 600 tons of fruits and vegetables so Sodexo can keep everyone well fed.
Unfortunately, this is where problems began. Many athletes (both present and past) felt the primarily vegan menu wasn’t sufficient to help them perform at their best. “World class athletes don’t have vegan diets,” commented retired Olympic swimmer James Magnussen, according to the New York Post. “They must have watched the Netflix doc Game Changers and assumed everyone was the same. But let me tell you, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Roger Federer — none of those guys are on a vegan diet.”
To make matters even worse, the offered protein options were so limited that the catering company couldn’t keep up with demands. The French newspaper L'équipe shared that they rationed the fresh eggs last week as a temporary fix to the issue. Grilled meats were also in short supply, much to the dismay of those at Olympic Village.
The frustrations about the food are on top of previous complaints regarding transportation for anyone competing. Many were forced to get onto crowded public transportation to get to their respective events. (Wondering what else goes on at Olympic Village? Click through to find out).
How did organizer correct the food issues at Olympic Village?
It hasn’t taken long for organizers to make changes since the news of the dining issues began reaching the public. On Monday, they shared they have fixed those early logistical problems.
"Regarding the food we've had to make some adjustments, which is normal in operations that size,” said Paris 2024 CEO Etienne Thobois in a press conference. "There has been a reinforcement in animal proteins with 700 kilos of eggs and a ton of meat (available) to meet the demands of the athletes, who we place at the heart of the Paris 2024 experience."
Since these changes, however, there hasn't been much feedback from those who are relying on the catering service for their meals. The hope is that the increase in protein options will allow competitors to properly fuel up before their events.
Olympians' feedback about the food
Athletes have taken to social media to provide a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to dine in the Olympic Village. One revelation from the insider videos? Competitors are able to select menu items served in six main areas devoted to Asian, French, Afro-Caribbean and world cuisine. (Click through for more viral Olympic videos).
Boxer Tina Rahimi, who is representing Australia, took her TikTok viewers through a tour of the dining hall in the below video. She shows off the wide selection of self-serve style food options, including a salad bar in each section.
Other athletes have decided to give personal feedback on how they feel about the quality of the meals. Aleah Finnegan, a gymnast from Missouri who is representing the Philippines in the games, posted a TikTok video with her review. “It’s good. It’s not really... seasoned,” she says in the video below.
While she did go on to add that the dining hall does include a seasoning station, crowds have made it more difficult to gain access in a timely manner. This can be especially tough if an athlete has limited time before they have to leave.
Others have been a bit more impressed with the offerings. American volleyball player Erik Shoji showed off his breakfast to followers in on TikTok video. He opted for a bowl of fruit, rice, sausage, a croissant and a slice of Matcha cake.
The verdict: He described the fruit as being “pretty fresh” while he considered the eggs “better than average.” Shoji did appear disappointed that his croissant lacked a flaky crunch.
As the games continue into August, other athletes could continue to follow suit. There may be more videos to come as they provide their opinions of the Olympic Village dining!
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