Athletes have complained about food shortages at the Olympic Village in Paris after they were promised dishes designed by Michelin-starred chefs.
Olympians have claimed that the amount of food available in the canteen is insufficient, French newspaper L’Equipe reported, just six days after it opened to competitors.
Eggs and grilled meats reportedly had to be rationed on Wednesday during the breakfast service.
The Olympic Village’s catering partner, Sodexo Live!, said it had taken the feedback ‘seriously’, noting that volumes will be increased to ‘satisfy the needs of the athletes’ after noticing a ‘very high demand for certain products’.
The Carrefour group, which is responsible for sourcing 600 tonnes of fresh produce for the Olympics, confirmed that in light of ‘the initial assessments of the meals consumed, it has been requested to revise upwards the quantities initially planned, which the group will be able to satisfy.’
People walk in front of the Olympic village canteen 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 26 July to 11 August 2024 in Paris
IOC President Thomas Bach tries food from a salad bar while touring the Olympic Village ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday
Light chocolate raspberry mousse and crunchy tuile dishes of French chef Stephane Chicheri chief executive of Sodexo Live are displayed. The company has been tasked with serving 40,000 meals a day at the Olympic Village
As the 15,000 international Olympic and Paralympic athletes from 208 different territories set to compete in this year’s games have begun arriving in the French capital ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, the event’s food service is gearing up to serve more than 13 million meals in the next month.
This comes after reports that the menu across the Olympic Village has been prepared by top chefs – a far cry from when McDonald’s sponsored the sporting event.
Michelin-starred chef Amandine Chaignot, Alexandre Mazzia and Akrame Benallal are among the top French chefs who have helped to craft the menu offered at a 3,500 seat restaurant in the Olympic village.
There are also salad bars, fruit stalls, a cheese stand, desserts, soups, daily specials and a buffet alongside the more classically French offerings.
Around 80 per cent of the food will be from France – and 100 per cent of the meat has been sourced from French supplier.
Executive chef for the Olympic Village of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Charles Guilloy from Sodexo Live!, poses in Rungis, near Paris
The International Olympic Committee had mandated the food must be local, primarily plant-based, and focused on minimal waste.
Nearly two-thirds of the 500 dishes on offer will be vegetarian, including meat-free options like beefless bourguignon and ‘not-dogs’, a meatless option featuring onions and pickled cabbage with honey-mustard sauce.
Leftovers will be redistributed to those in need, and used coffee grinds will be repurposed for fertilisation.
The sustainable menu aims to meet the diverse cultural, religious and nutritional needs of athletes while showcasing French gastronomy.
