Topline
Athletes living in the Olympic Village have lamented they aren’t getting the tasty French cuisine they might have expected in Paris, with many taking to TikTok to review the underwhelming food they’ve been served in the dining hall—though some silver linings, like the chocolate muffins, have gone viral.
The dining hall chocolate muffins have gone viral. (Photo by Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)
Getty ImagesKey Facts
Rachel Glenn, an American track and field athlete competing in the high jump and 400m hurdles, posted a TikTok video of herself eating pasta in the Olympic Village dining hall set to an audio that says: “Help me.”
American track and field athlete Raven Saunders, who competes in shot put and discus throw, posted a TikTok in the dining hall set to an audio that says, “You disappointed me,” while she holds up a piece of food to the camera—and commenters can’t figure out what the food is supposed to be.
Emelia Chatfield, a track and field athlete who represents Haiti, posted a TikTok video giving the dining hall food a rough 0/10 rating, calling it “disgusting,” but admitting it can be a 2/10 “on some days.”
In a more mixed review, Singaporean swimmer Quah Jing Wen said the flavor of some of the food she got, particularly a French salmon Wellington dish, “caught her off guard,” but eventually grew on her—though she said the food always lacks salt.
Filipino gymnast Aleah Finnegan similarly said the food was not bad, but was not seasoned enough.
Key Background
The food offered to the athletes in the Olympic Village, managed by French company Sodexo Live, has stirred controversy following a greater emphasis on locally sourced, plant-based and climate-friendly options. The food options angered some federations, including Great Britain. The British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Anson said the food options were “not adequate,” citing the lack of eggs and meats like chicken, while accusing the dining hall of serving athletes raw meat. Anson said the British team hired another chef to accommodate athletes who didn’t want to eat in the dining halls. Paris Olympics CEO Etienne Thobois said earlier this week the organizers have “had to make some adjustments,” including a “reinforcement in animal proteins” and eggs to meet the demands of athletes.
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Dining and Cooking