The 2024 Paris Olympics have been hailed as a triumph of sustainability and environmental consciousness, with organizers implementing a range of measures to reduce the event’s carbon footprint. However, according to British swimmer Adam Peaty, one key aspect of the Games has fallen woefully short: the catering and food options available to the athletes in the Olympic Village.
In a scathing interview with iNews, Peaty, a three-time Olympian and six-time medalist, pulled no punches in his assessment of the culinary offerings at this year’s Games. “The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform,” he argued, going on to reveal that “people are finding worms in the fish.”
Peaty’s concerns go beyond mere palatability; he believes the subpar food quality is actively undermining the athletes’ ability to perform at the highest level. “We’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re feeding them not the best,” he lamented. “I just want people to get better at their roles and jobs. And I think that’s what the athletes are the best sounding board for.”
Peaty also took issue with the organizers’ push for more sustainable, meatless and vegan meals, arguing that this “narrative of sustainability has just been punished on the athletes.” As a high-performance athlete, Peaty says he needs meat to fuel his training and competition, and he resents being forced to change his diet during the Games.
Peaty’s comments stand in stark contrast to the positive experiences he had at previous Olympic Games. “Tokyo, the food was incredible, Rio was incredible,” he recalled. “But this time around, there wasn’t enough protein options, long queues, waiting 30 minutes for food because there’s no queuing system.”
Olympic Village food counter at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Sarah Meyssonnier Pool/Getty Images
In response to Peaty’s comments, a Paris 2024 spokesperson acknowledged that they were taking athletes’ feedback “very seriously” and would work to “ensure that the service runs smoothly.” However, they also stated that they had found “no information to be able to confirm the specific allegation” about worms in the food.
As the world’s top athletes gather in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the catering and food quality in the Olympic Village have emerged as a significant point of contention. Peaty’s scathing critique highlights the importance of providing world-class athletes with the high-quality, nutritious sustenance they need to perform at their best. Ultimately, the success of the Paris Games may hinge on the organizing committee’s ability to address these concerns and ensure that the athletes’ basic needs are met.
