The diets and lifestyles of elite athletes is always a point of fascination, but how do you feed 14,000 of them at once? This is a task laid at the feet of the Olympic Village organisers for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Given France’s culinary reputation, food was always going to be a point of interest in the Games. The New York Times reports that every Olympic Village will have a boulangerie (bakery), churning out croissants and baguettes, strategically placed near the front gate so it’s the first scent savoured upon entering.
And while one would expect a healthy representation of France’s national dishes, there’s plenty more going on at the Olympic Village dining hall.
Cuisine from across the globe has been supplied to our diverse range of athletes, with some teams even bringing in their own chefs. (The Australian team brought their own barista because we’re that serious about a good flat white.)
Interestingly, there’s already plenty of drama surrounding the food happenings in the village. Here, all the fascinating food dispatches from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
What Are The Olympians Eating At The Paris Olympic Village?
There’s cuisine from all over the world on offer at the Olympic Village. Athletes have even been giving first-hand reviews of the menu, and showing us around the dining hall on TikTok.
@aleahfinn Dining hall tour & review
♬ Watermelon Sugar but sped up – Leah <3#fyp #foryou #olympicdininghall #olympics #paris2024 #olympicvillage
The dining hall features cuisines from France and other European nations, Asia and Africa.
The sections of the buffet-style dining area, includes:
- A hot food buffet (more than 500 recipes from across the globe will be served throughout the Games)
- salad bar
- grill station
- bakery
- dessert bar
- cheese selection
France, a proud culinary nation at all times, has announced that 80% of the ingredients for the Olympic Village menu are locally sourced.
The Olympic Egg Shortage
Unsurprisingly, this protein-rich power food is in high-demand at the village—which has led to a bit of an issue among the ranks.
Apparently, Olympians have complained that eggs and chicken are in low supply in the dining hall. While the Olympic Village kitchens are reportedly on the case, the UK has (unofficially) declared it’s not soon enough, and has flown in their own chef to support the British Olympic team.
Australian Olympians Have Their Own Barista
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Australians don’t mess around when it comes to coffee. Never has this been more true than at the Paris Olympics, where the Australian team brought in their own barista and coffee supply for the athletes. Let’s just say, we know what’s important.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
