The Paris 2024 Olympic Games promise to be a landmark event not only for sport, but also for the future of events. Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability and inclusion is reflected in its approach to providing varied and delicious plant-based options, not only for athletes, but also for spectators and organising teams. A look back at the promises of this historic event.
Paris 2024’s Commitment to Sustainability
The organisers of Paris 2024 have set themselves ambitious targets to make these the most environmentally friendly and inclusive Games in history. Among these goals is a commitment to offering environmentally friendly meals, which includes a significant increase in 100% plant based options. The choice to promote a vegan diet is not insignificant: it is part of a global trend towards healthier and more sustainable diets, and is supported by numerous studies that demonstrate the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.
The Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG) has declared its intention to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the Games by 55% compared to the previous edition. One of the key strategies for achieving this goal is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with food. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), livestock farming is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting plant-based options, Paris 2024 is not only reducing its carbon footprint, but also promoting biodiversity and preserving water resources.
According to the organisers, 50% of the dishes offered in the canteens at the venues will be vegetarian. At the general public concessions, 60% of the food on offer will be meat-free.
A Diversified and Innovative Culinary Offer
One of the promises of Paris 2024 is to offer a diverse cuisine that reflects the rich gastronomy of France while respecting individual dietary restrictions and preferences. For vegan dishes, this means creating tasty, balanced meals using quality, local ingredients.
French chefs are renowned for their creativity and culinary mastery. They rise to the challenge of transforming plant-based ingredients into dishes worthy of haute cuisine. Vegan options include traditional dishes such as ratatouille, vegan cassoulet and desserts such as red fruit clafoutis without eggs or milk. The use of plant proteins such as tofu, seitan and pulses makes it possible to create dishes that are both nutritious and delicious, respecting athletes’ needs in terms of proteins and essential nutrients.
To round off the range created by the chefs, and for the first time in the history of the Games, a vegan caterer is partnering the Organising Committee. Beetroot falafels and vegan burgers will be available under the Garden Gourmet brand, a leader on the European and French markets. Garden Gourmet will be supplying a whole range of products to the various service providers (including Sodexo Live!).
“We’re very proud of this historic opportunity to become an official supporter of Paris 2024, which is an exceptional showcase for the brand and for the plant category. We have a very clear ambition with Garden Gourmet, which is to make all consumers fall in love with plant-based products. Today, on the French market, 50% of consumers are flexitarians (they adopt a diet with more plant-based protein sources), vegan or vegetarian, and this vision is perfectly consistent with the sustainability ambitions of the 2024 Olympics. We’re going to contribute to this desire to double the proportion of plant-based food on our plates, by offering our products at all the venues.” – Marco Zanchi, Managing Director Food France. Source : Le Parisien
The Athlete and Spectator Experience
For athletes, diet is an essential part of their preparation and performance. Offering quality vegan options can meet the specific needs of some athletes while providing a healthy, balanced alternative for all. More and more top athletes are choosing an exclusively plant-based diet, not only for ethical reasons, but also to improve their performance. Stars such as Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams and Lewis Hamilton have all adopted a plant-based diet, claiming that it improves their recovery and energy levels.
The Olympic Games are a showcase for cultures from around the world, and Paris 2024 intends to use this platform to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The organisers also plan to set up vegan food stalls in the stadiums and fan zones, offering a range of options from snacks to full meals, all based on local and seasonal produce.The Potential Impact of the Games on Food Culture
This event could encourage restaurants, canteens and other catering services to expand their vegan offerings, helping to normalise these food choices. The effects could also be felt in the food industry, with increased demand for quality vegan products, which could stimulate innovation and the development of new products.Paris 2024 marks a turning point in the history of the Olympic Games in terms of sustainability and inclusiveness. This thoughtful and committed choice is in perfect harmony with the values of Olympism, which advocates excellence and respect.
The potential benefits of this initiative go far beyond the two weeks of competition. It could transform the way sporting events address food and sustainability, inspiring other organisations to follow Paris 2024’s lead.