Olympic Village facilities under fire as extra staff rushed in amid athlete fury
Athletes have slammed the lack of quality protein and carbohydrates in the Olympic Village.
The Olympic Village facilities have come under fire as athletes have been left to search for adequate food to refuel ahead of their respective bids to bring home gold. Numerous athletes have been reportedly left furious at the insufficient quantities of chicken, eggs and certain crucial carbohydrates, leading one country to rush in a chef.
According to The Times, British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Anson claims not only have there been some serious supply issues in the Olympic Village but some meat that has been served has been raw. “They have got to improve it over the next couple of days dramatically,” Anson said.
With the situation needing to be rectified immediately, the Brits have moved to send another team chef. In response their athletes have already moved away from eating at the mainstream Village in Paris, opting for their Olympics performance lodge in Cichy.
The representative also noted that "volumes have therefore been increased" for in-demand items such as grilled meat and eggs. A British athlete who spoke under the guise of anonymity speculated that the short supply was due to the Games trying to be more environmentally conscious.
“They are saying the Games are more sustainable and there is way more plant-based food but sometimes if you go at peak times it’s challenging to even get a piece of chicken,” an anonymous British athlete the mainstream Village the UK news outlet.
The 2024 Games food provider, Sodexo Live, acknowledged that the service had not been good enough thus far but ensured competing athletes that they were working to increase supply. A company spokesman said they had taken the complaints "very seriously" and the caterer is tirelessly "working to increase our supplies to the restaurants in the athletes’ village".
Below-par Olympic facilities been constant talking point
In the lead up to the Games and on day one the below-par facilities have been a major talking point. Away from the food catering issue, officials are also working expeditiously to address the water quality of the River Seine after the latest tests revealed it to be below the standards needed to authorise swimming.
The quality of the water in the iconic river was been a massive concern for athletes competing in the triathlon and marathon swim. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a highly publicised dip last week before the Games got underway to dispel concerns around the water.
But the latest test results have painted a concerning picture. Daily water quality tests have been measuring levels of fecal bacteria known as E. coli. Tests by monitoring group Eau de Paris showed on June 17 that E. coli levels were above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres - determined by European rules. The site at the Bras Marie reached a value of 985 on the day the mayor swam with Paris Olympics chief Tony Estanguet.
