An Olympic athlete has voiced concerns about the food quality in the Olympic Village.
Despite Paris’s reputation for excellent cuisine, athletes’ complaints suggest a different reality.
Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty is among those who have highlighted issues with the Olympic menu.
His concerns extend beyond limited food options for elite athletes; Peaty has also raised alarms about food hygiene.
Disturbingly, Peaty mentioned that some athletes discovered worms in their meals.
In an interview with the i, he noted that both he and other athletes felt the food quality fell short of what is expected at such a prestigious event.
Peaty told the i: “I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough.
“The standard, we’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re feeding them not the best.”
He emphasized: “I just want people to get better at their roles and jobs. And I think that’s what the athletes are the best sounding board for.”
Peaty’s concerns also touch on more than just hygiene.
For top-tier athletes, a balanced diet is critical to maintain peak performance.
Regular swimmers might understand the intense hunger that follows a swim, highlighting the need for proper nutrition and adequate calorie intake for athletes.
Peaty asserted that the current food offerings fall short: “The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform. We need to give the best we possibly can.
“Tokyo, the food was incredible, Rio was incredible. But this time around […] there wasn’t enough protein options, long queues, waiting 30 minutes for food because there’s no queuing system.”
He mentioned that his goal in speaking out is to instigate improvements.
A Paris 2024 spokesperson responded: “We are listening to the athletes and take their feedback very seriously.
“Since the opening of the Village, our partner Sodexo Live! has been working proactively to adapt supplies to the growing use of the Olympic Village restaurants, as well as to the actual consumption by athletes observed over the first few days.
“As a result, the quantities of certain products have been significantly increased and additional staff have been deployed to ensure that the service runs smoothly.”