The Late Skimm: Food Complaints? At the Paris Olympics?

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Food Complaints? At the Paris Olympics?

What isn’t getting gold in Paris? The food. Yes, in one of the culinary capitals of the world, there’s drama over the Olympic Village meals. Not only did catering staff have to ration breakfast eggs earlier this week (they were supposedly in “very high demand,” which seems…expected), but there’s also been reports there’s not enough chicken and grilled meats — and that raw meat has been served to athletes. Now, some are complaining on TikTok about the crowds, lack of seasoning (quelle horreur), and altogether underwhelming culinary experiences. Things have gotten so bleak — or, in the words of the British Olympic Association chief executive “not adequate” — that Team GB took matters into their own hands and flew in their own chef.

This is probably where we should mention that feeding 15,000 athletes — with countless cultural and nutritional requirements — around the clock is no dinner party. In fact, the undertaking was so daunting, it required three famed French chefs and a 46,000-square-foot, six-restaurant complex serving everything from beefless bourguignon to saffron risotto to sticky rice (just two stars, according to US fencer Lee Kiefer) to what Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen described as “11/10” chocolate muffins. Not to mention, there’s also an on-site boulangerie serving more than 2,000 French classics (think: baguettes, croissants, pain au chocolat) daily. Because…Paris. Still, catering company Sodexo Live, has acknowledged its shortcomings, saying it takes the feedback “very seriously” and is “working to increase our supplies.” Not to pile on, but allez, allez.

Related: The Most Surprising Foods Olympic Delegations Have Shipped to Paris (Eater)

Meanwhile, On The Internet

📰  Just ahead of the opening ceremony, arsonists attacked the French high-speed rail network — paralyzing travel for some 800,000 people.

🐐  Simone Biles will attempt a new skill on the uneven bars — the only apparatus without a skill named for her. But based on this practice clip, we bet that’ll change.

⚽️  Another day, another “spygate” twist: Now, Canada’s women’s soccer coach is being suspended and sent home for alleged “previous drone use against opponents.” Dun dun dun. 

🇭🇹 Just when we thought no country could top Mongolia for Best Dressed, in comes Haiti with outfits that, honestly, deserve a lot more attention.

📸  Zendaya, Jeremy Allen White, and just about every other celebrity in Paris showed up to the Olympic equivalent of the Met Gala last night.

The Final Countdown

On your marks, get set, watch. NBC Olympics coverage begins tonight on NBC and Peacock at 7:30/6:30c.*

Well Played

To all the NARPs in the nosebleeds and superfans on the sidelines, this one’s for you. Just in time for the Olympics, we launched Well Played, a sports podcast that provides gold medal takes and keeps you up to date on the convos dominating your office water cooler chats. Listen to our first episode for an Olympic preview, a Q&A with 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix, and a conversation with Olympic bronze medalist and former member of the USWNT Sam Mewis. Then tap “follow” wherever you get your podcasts.