Olympians have posted a lot about the accommodations in France, and they’re less than pleased. But the food has been the most surprising part, particularly because of this country’s culinary reputation.
As the Paris Olympic Games unfold, athletes are taking to social media to share their experiences, and some of their videos have gone viral online, but not for a good reason. Online fans are shocked about the food, especially about something disgusting revealed by a Team Great Britain athlete. Let’s discover what’s going on!
Athletes from the around the world start to arrive in the Olympic Village as residences of delegations are adorned with national flags in Paris, France on July 23, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Many Are Leaving the Village
While trying to be green sounds like a great idea, Paris is facing some challenges because of that choice. Many top athletes are fed up with the facilities in the Games Village, and this has led to a mini exodus.
Screenshot of an Olympic Village building for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games | Source: Youtube/Firstpost
Some are ditching the official accommodations for luxury hotels. One of the biggest problems has been the cardboard beds. American tennis player Emma Navarro finds them too uncomfortable for a good night’s sleep.
Similarly, India’s Olympic champion Manu Bhaker joked about the bed size and added, “I have a very small bed… I’ll probably fall off the bed, so no, I would not take that risk.”
Screenshot of an Olympic Village room for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games | Source: Youtube/Firstpost
Even gymnastics star Simone Biles is struggling with the rough cardboard bed bases. Several clever athletes, like US gymnast Fred Richard, planned and had mattresses delivered before the games. However, this is only one of the issues.
The rooms are also too hot. Instead of air conditioners, Paris installed geothermal cooling systems to stay green. As a result, some countries like the United States, sent their athletes their own portable AC units.
A general view of the bedrooms inside the Australian Athletes’ Village ahead of the Paris Olympic Games on July 23, 2024 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, the US tennis prodigy, shared her dismay at the logistics where ten athletes have to share only two bathrooms. Most of her teammates have left because of it. However, she’s giving the village a second chance, after following the steps of other athletes.
She expressed her excitement at encountering so many remarkable Olympians in the village, including Rafael Nadal, who inspired her to stay. Gauff also remarked that if “he could do it, so could she.”
Trying to maintain a green environment is a noble approach, but it clearly comes at a cost for the people participating in the event. Furthermore, it’s not just about beds and heat; the biggest issue at the Olympic Village is the food.
The Shocking Culinary Problem
The dining hall in Paris is simply not living up to the expected standards, not only because athletes can compare the food to previous Olympics, but also because France is lauded for its excellent cuisine. The main problem seems to be the decision to opt for greener menus.
People enjoy food at a restaurant in the Olympic Village during the media open day on July 23, 2024 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
Sodexo Live, a French company, is in charge of the catering services for the Games. Their representatives said they’ve adjusted supplies based on athlete feedback and consumption patterns in the early days of the event. However, the complication persisted.
The main restaurant in the Olympic Village has reportedly had to ration certain products, such as eggs and other proteins, which these athletes desperately need. On the other hand, not all athletes have complaints about the food or the rest of the accommodations, but it’s not what they anticipated either.
Hungary Minister of Defense and Sport Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky sits for a meal with Fencing Bronze medalist Eszter Muhari as he visits Hungarian Athletes at the Olympic Village during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
Not Living up to Expectations
American gymnast Asher Hong has found some bright spots in the Olympic Village dining options despite the complaints from many. He said, “It’s not terrible. It’s just not what you would expect at the Olympic Games. You’d think that they’d bring some better chefs to kind of season the food a little bit better.”
U.S. track and field sprinter Anna Hall offered her take on the food situation, stating that she found it decent but acknowledged that many American athletes, herself included, are picky eaters. She mentioned that the US training site provides alternative meal options, so finding suitable food hasn’t been a problem.
Others have gotten creative with their meals. “I’ve been tearing up the world section, and I started to create my own hot sauces at the salad bar. So that’s helped,” US swimmer Caeleb Dressel said.
Some athletes, like American volleyball player Chiaka Ogbogu, shared their strategies for navigating the dining options. She recommended embracing “the variety” and trying different things, instead of sticking to the same meal every day, which can get boring. She approached this situation as a game of trying to discover new and interesting options within the village.
Even gymnastics superstar Biles weighed in on the food issue. At a press conference, she diplomatically stated, “OK, here’s the thing. I don’t think we’re having proper French cuisine in the village like you guys might be eating because you’re outside the village. For the athletes, it’s a little bit… healthier.”
Her teammate, Hezly Rivera, was more direct and said, “I don’t think it’s very good, at least what we’re having in the dining hall. I definitely think French food is good, but what we’re having in there, I don’t think it’s the best. But it gets the job done.”
They sampled dishes from the Asian section, including chicken tikka, sticky rice, curry beef, cauliflower, and leeks. They liked a few things more than others, but the ratings for this meal were an average of 3 stars. What’s more, Kiefer had a less-than-thrilled expression.
A screenshot of a meal at the Olympic Village dining hall posted by Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt | Source: TikTok/oldmarriedolympians
The Olympic couple also had the chocolate muffins that many athletes have been gushing about since the event started, and they loved it. They gave it 5 stars!
A screenshot of a meal at the Olympic Village dining hall posted by Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt | Source: TikTok/oldmarriedolympians
