2024 Olympics: Olympic village chef responds to criticism of athletes' food
Akrame Benallal, head chef of the Olympic Village, spoke about athletes' criticism regarding the quality and management of catering during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. During his appearance on Figaro TV, Benallal shared his astonishment about the amount of food athletes consume daily and addressed the necessary adjustments to meet their needs.
Quick adjustments from Sodexo
From the first days of the Games, several athletes criticized the food offering, highlighting shortcomings in the restaurant at the Cité du Cinéma in Saint-Denis, managed by Sodexo. “Athletes don’t consume like us,” explained Akrame Benallal. “Sodexo Live quickly rectified the situation the day after the first criticisms. As with any new experience, adjustments were necessary. »
Intense consumption
For these Games, Sodexo has set up a vast system with 3.300 seats and the capacity to serve 40.000 meals per day, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with 550 recipes developed by great chefs to satisfy the 10.000 athletes present at the Olympic Village. “From morning to evening, they just feed,” Benallal added. “They asked for almost 900 grams of protein per day, because their bodies, subjected to intensive training, need it. »
Response to athlete criticism
British swimmer Adam Peaty was among the latest to publicly criticize the food at the Olympic Village, comparing the quality to that of previous Games in Tokyo and Rio. “In Tokyo and Rio the food was incredible. But this time there was a lack of protein and the queues were long, you had to wait 30 minutes to be served,” he said. Peaty also mentioned issues like the discovery of worms in fish, calling it "unacceptable."
Despite his criticism, Adam Peaty recognized the positive aspects of these Olympic Games. “These are probably the best Games in terms of fan engagement. There will never be a perfect Games,” he conceded.
Alice Leroy
