Paris denies meat, AC to Olympians to fight climate change
Organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been subjecting this year’s athletes to climate mandates, initially denying them meat and air-conditioning.
No meat
German athletes complained about the lack of animal-sourced protein, calling the food a “disaster.” British athletes flew out their own chef after UK Olympic Association CEO Andy Anson objected to the climate diet, which lacked protein rich foods like chicken and eggs.
“The Paris 2024 Food Vision document aimed to serve 13 million meals during the Games to the athletes featuring locally sourced, seasonal food with reduced animal protein to lower the Games' carbon footprint compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics,” reported Euro News.
In response, Paris 2024 Games CEO Étienne Thobois capitulated and announced at a press conference this week that the Olympians will be provided with animal-based protein.
"A reinforcement in animal proteins, with 700 kilos of eggs and a ton of meat, will meet the demands of the athletes," Thobois said.
Sodexo Live, the catering company, reluctantly agreed to shift away from the initial plant-based climate diet. “[C]ertain products, such as eggs and grilled meats, are particularly popular among athletes, so their quantities have been immediately increased,” the company said.
No air conditioning
Event organizers have also denied the athletes air conditioning because of its effect on climate change, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“In the lead-up to the Games, French officials were uncompromising in their view that A/C would be unnecessary and unacceptable because of the impact of energy consumption on the climate,” the Times said. Instead, the organizers opted to pipe in cool water underneath the floors via a “geothermal system” which is supposed to yield a temperature 11 degrees cooler than the outdoors.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that while air conditioning would be comfortable for athletes, they should sacrifice their comfort to save the human race.
“I have a lot of respect for the comfort of athletes, but I think a lot more about the survival of humanity,” Hidalgo told a French radio station last year.
Ultimately, the organizers compromised by allowing Olympians to bring their own air conditioning units at their own expense.
Recycled cardboard beds
As another “sustainability effort,” athletes have been provided with cardboard beds recycled from the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. The beds are expected to be recycled after this year’s Games as well.
"Knowing that Paris is going to have the cardboard beds again — the 'anti-sex' beds, which is not what they are for — they are very uncomfortable," Olympic track and field champion Nick Mayhugh told CBS Sports. "So I think I'm going to Amazon order a mattress topper and have it shipped there so I can be more comfortable than I was in Tokyo. But maybe I should sleep uncomfortably. Maybe that's why I won four medals."
