Food shortages plague athletes at Paris Olympics Games Village

The Paris Olympics have been marred by an unexpected challenge as severe food shortages have hit the Games Village, leaving many athletes and their teams struggling to meet their dietary needs. Reports from the French newspaper L’Équipe and the BBC have highlighted the dire situation, where raw meat and insufficient food supplies have become a daily reality for the competitors.

The monumental task of feeding 15,000 athletes from 208 nations, along with their support teams, officials, and volunteers, falls on Paris 2024's catering service, managed by Sodexo Live. With over 13 million meals to serve, the service has been stretched thin. Despite the availability of six main dining areas offering a variety of international cuisines, the high demand has significantly outstripped supply.

Athletes have reported rationing of eggs at breakfast and a notable scarcity of grilled meats, essential for their high-protein diets. The British Olympic Association's chief executive, Andy Anson, has pointed out that the quality of food has been inadequate, with instances of raw meat being served. These issues have sparked widespread dissatisfaction among competitors, who rely on precise nutrition to maintain peak performance.

Sodexo accepts the rise in demand

Sodexo Live has acknowledged the intense demand and is working diligently to increase food volumes. Carrefour, responsible for supplying fresh produce, has been asked to elevate quantities to meet the heightened demand. However, the specific dietary requirements of high-performance athletes have led to a supply-demand mismatch.

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The Games Village's dining facility, capable of seating up to 3,300 people at a time, prepares approximately 40,000 meals daily. Despite meticulous planning, the sheer volume and particular needs of the athletes have created significant logistical challenges. This situation has prompted organizers to ramp up efforts to address the shortages and improve the quality and quantity of food available.

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To maintain sustainability, the Paris Olympics have imposed a strict quality charter for food. This initiative aims to halve the carbon footprint of meals compared to the London 2012 Games by sourcing all meat, milk, and eggs from France and ensuring that a third of the food is plant-based. However, these sustainability goals have also contributed to the complexity of meeting the athletes' nutritional needs.