Paris Olympics food donations seek to help needy, contribute to sustainability and set an example

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Food that goes uneaten at the Paris Olympics is helping those in need around the French capital

PARIS — It is quite literally the food of champions. Paris Olympics organizers are determined that it not go to waste.

Food that goes uneaten at the Games — by the athletes, the spectators and the workers — is helping those in need around the French capital, part of an effort to cut down on waste and contribute to organizers' commitment to sustainability.

Paris 2024 organizers have long said the Games would be more environmentally friendly, including reusable dishes in the main restaurant at the athletes' village, greener construction and seats in venues made from recycled materials. In addition to helping those in need, organizers also hope the food donations will set an example for other Olympics and major events to follow.

“This is part of the legacy that we’ve been working on since the beginning,” said Georgina Grenon, who oversees the Paris Games’ effort to reduce its carbon footprint by half compared to London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. “We’ve been working to try to change the way in which these Games are organized, both for us but also for other events. And food waste is one of those things.”

Food waste is a source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and even though it's not a huge source of emissions for the Olympics, Grenon said organizers “thought it was important to be particularly exemplary on this and lead the way on showing how to do it and showing it is possible.”

They’ve tried to reduce food waste both preventively, when the menus were being drawn up, and during the Games — signing an agreement with three groups so that uneaten food is collected and redistributed.

About 40,000 meals are served each day