Michelin stars? They serve us semi-raw meat, there are no eggs, the athletes are thundering. Food at the Olympics should reduce the carbon footprint – Paris 2024 Olympics – Summer Olympics

Every day, 40,000 meals are prepared for them in the Olympic canteen, which can serve up to 3,500 diners at once.

However, according to the athletes themselves, they do not meet several criteria. Chefs with Michelin stars helped to design a menu based on plant-based and local products that minimize the carbon footprint of the Olympic Games.

Negative reactions to food in a city that has become famous for its high culinary standards are damaging to the overall image of the Games.

“The thing is, I don’t think we have typical French food available in the Olympic Village. If you live outside the village, you have completely different options to enjoy the local cuisine.

In addition, the food for athletes here is too healthy,” states the star American gymnast Simone Biles, with whom the other members of the American team agreed.

“I don’t think the food here is good. I’m sure that French cuisine is much better than what they serve here,” adds 16-year-old Hezly Riverová, another American gymnast.

The meal also sparked a wave of criticism and controversy among other national federations.

According to a member of the British team, who spoke anonymously to The Times, eating in the Olympic canteen is “a big challenge and it’s also chaotic and less organized than in Tokyo.”

Athletes complained about the long waiting time for food, especially at lunchtime.

Both meat and eggs are missing

The offer is said to lack more animal products, which are a source of natural proteins.

“There is a lack of chicken meat, eggs or foods with a high carbohydrate content. The quality of the food itself is a special aspect.

Athletes often get meat that is semi-raw on their plate. The conditions in the next few days must improve significantly here,” criticizes the head of the British Olympic Committee, Andy Anson, who was quoted by the website today.com.

Competent people have already responded to the criticism. The head of the organizing team of the Olympic Games in Paris, Etiene Thobois, commented on the reservations at a recent press conference.

“It is normal that in an operation of such dimensions as the Olympics, you have to make various adjustments or changes. Some products, such as eggs or grilled meat, are extremely popular among athletes.

Therefore, they will be increased,” states Thobois. The company Sodexo Live, which is responsible for the catering at the Olympics, has assured critics that it will take care of increasing the quality of the food.

Some athletes have shared videos on their social networks explaining that they prefer to avoid the main dining hall in the Olympic Village.

Americans Abbey Weitzeyl and Phoebe Bacon showed off a video in which they cook lunch on the balcony using a grill in improvised conditions.

“Smart girls who won’t get lost in the world,” several fans responded to the video. However, there were also those, according to whom sportsmen and women turning up their noses at the wide selection in the canteen have excessively high demands.

Among them was Slovak cyclist Lukáš Kubiš, who will take part in the five-ring road race this weekend. He evaluates the first dinner in Paris positively.

“I am one of those who prefer not to think about such an important event. I ordered pasta with chicken as standard and had cheesecake for dessert. I feel that everyone can choose here, the food is blessed,” Kubiš told us in an interview after arriving in Paris.

The best thing? Muffins

Even the Americans themselves, who were extremely critical of the diet, admitted that not everything is disgusting.

“They make excellent pizza here,” praised Biles. According to Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen, he fell in love with chocolate muffins. According to many, the sweet treat is one of the most popular dishes in the Olympic canteen.

“This is simply the best thing from the Olympic Village,” the Norwegian Olympian wrote on the social network.

Even Slovaks do not complain about the food in Paris yet. According to Kubiš, the food is of high quality and he has eaten everything he has put on his plate so far.

“I don’t understand the reservations at all. The pasta is not boiled, which surprised me quite a bit. Because when it’s cooked on a large scale, it happens regularly,” says the Slovak hope in cycling, and in response to the criticism of the Americans, he just remarked with a smile: “Apparently they miss hamburgers.”

Philipp Würz, who is responsible for the catering section of the Olympic Village, admitted that the original calculations were not ideal.

“You cannot prepare dishes that will be 100% suitable for vegetarians. That’s simply not possible. Athletes need a lot of protein,” Würz told The Washington Post.

American rugby player Ilona Maher shared a video on social media in which she pointed out different options for carbohydrate intake. She put a croissant, a pastry and a pancake on her plate.

Information about the composition of individual dishes is also perceived positively. Diners can read these on the labels, which, among other things, also inform them about the nutritional values ​​of the given dishes.

American canoeist Casey Eichfeld also praised the rich selection. “They did a great job here. There is a really rich offer, thanks to which everyone will find something for themselves and you can feel at home,” states Eichfeld.