Athletes dine at the dining hall inside the athletes’ village in Milan, Italy. Yonhap
At first glance, the dining hall in the athletes’ village in Milan gleams with an array of options. For the Korean Olympic delegation, however, the excitement of encountering European cuisine quickly fades, replaced by quiet dissatisfaction.
“The meat feels like rubber,” one said. “Food is everywhere, but a lot of it tastes pretty mediocre.”
Delegation members point to a nutritional imbalance. Their main concern revolves around protein, a critical nutrient for athletes.
“There are fish and meat, but often too rubbery and salty,” one official said. “Pizza and pasta come in many variations and taste good, but they are too high in carbohydrates. For athletes who must carefully manage body weight, such foods are rarely viable options.”
Menu fatigue is also setting in.
“The food tastes fine, but eating the same dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner dulls the appetite,” short track skater Shin Dong-min said on YouTube. Team captain Lee Jun-seo agreed, saying, “There isn’t much to eat.”
Packed meal boxes are stacked at the Milan Meal Support Center for delivery to Korean athletes in Milan on Feb. 9. Korea Times photo by Kim Jin-ju
‘Meal Support Centers’ keep athletes fed
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) has set up dedicated kitchens in host cities near the athletes’ villages. Located in Milan,Cortina d’AmpezzoandLivigno, the three meal support centers keep stew pots simmering and grills running to ease athletes’ longings for familiar food from home.
Source: Korea Times News
