An effort by Paris Olympic organizers to reduce the carbon footprint of catering at this year’s environmentally friendly Games has hit a snag: the significant appetites of meat-loving athletes.
During a trial run at the Olympics village restaurant in June, Games leader Tony Estanguet emphasized Paris 2024’s goal of cutting the average carbon emissions per meal in half compared to previous Olympics by offering more vegetarian options.
In order to not disappoint visitors to a country known for its cuisine, the organizing committee enlisted the help of several Michelin-starred chefs to work with food contractor Sodexo.
However, during the first days in the village, located in a suburb north of Paris, athletes were demanding more meat, eggs, and larger portions to refuel after intense competitions and workouts.
“The only issue is food shortages,” swimmer Julio Horrego from Honduras told AFP on Monday. “It’s a bit surprising.”
Horrego, who consumes up to 5,000 calories per day, shared his experience of going for breakfast on Sunday and finding no eggs available.
“If you arrive a bit late, then there aren’t enough,” he mentioned at the village entrance.
Romanian rower Iulian Chelaru noted that meat was missing initially but the situation has since been resolved.
German swimmer Lucas Matzerath, 24, commented on the increased portion sizes at the food hall.
“At the beginning, the portions weren’t very big, but they have improved now,” he stated.
The food hall offers a variety of dishes from around the world, with half of the daily options being vegetarian.
Sodexo mentioned that they have adjusted their menus based on the demand for eggs and grilled meat dishes.
– On the grill –
The vegetarian-heavy options and other sustainable efforts in the Paris village have led some to call it “woke”.
The village, built without air-conditioning, uses a renewable underfloor geo-thermal cooling and heating system.
Some teams have opted for portable coolers due to the hot temperatures, while others are without air conditioning.
Despite some challenges with the cardboard beds and recycled mattresses, many athletes appreciate the sustainable approach taken by the Paris 2024 organizing committee.
“I really enjoy it and like what they’ve done in the village,” said Signe Bro, a Danish swimmer. “It does the job now, but it’s great to know how it will be used in the future, and that it has been built sustainably.”
“You can laugh about the beds, but it’s good to know they are recyclable,” she added.