“Athletes complain about lack of animal protein-rich diets” – Watts Up With That?

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/30/olympics-stir-eu-debate-on-need-for-meat-based- Protein

go through Gerardo Fortuna

A parody of the so-called “Last Supper” during the Paris opening ceremony sparked outrage, but the actual food served in the Olympic village sparked a debate that reached Brussels this week over whether athletes need to eat meat The main diet.

The German men's hockey team criticized the food served in the Olympic village, calling it “a disaster”, while British athletes sent an extra chef to Paris to make up for the shortage.

Andy Anson, chief executive of the British Olympic Association, lamented the lack of protein – particularly chicken and eggs – on village menus and raised concerns about raw meat.

The Paris 2024 food vision document aims to provide 13 million meals to athletes during the Olympics, featuring locally sourced, seasonal foods and reducing animal protein, to compare with London 2012 and Rio 2016. , reducing the Olympic carbon footprint.

Following complaints, Paris 2024 chief executive Étienne Thobois announced changes, including an increase in animal protein intake.

“Fortifying animal protein with 700 kilograms of eggs and a ton of meat will meet the needs of athletes,” Soboys told a news conference this week.

Sodexo Live, the French company responsible for catering, temporarily changed its original environmental commitment, saying that “certain products, such as eggs and grilled meats, are particularly popular with athletes and therefore increased their quantities immediately.”

In Brussels, where the Olympics' food issues have sparked reactions, the European Union is committed to promoting plant-based diets in a similar way under its flagship food policy “Farm to Fork” strategy.

Christiane Lambert, president of EU farmers' lobby group Copa Cogeca, criticized the move away from animal protein in defense of Europe's livestock industry on social media platform , heartbreaking.

“Prescriber [of these diets] People underestimate the need and desire for the high-protein foods that animal proteins provide to repair muscles and recover between activities and training sessions…as does the need for carbohydrates,” she said.

She warned that the EU also underestimated the diversity of dietary needs based on age, gender, physical activity, climate, tradition and culture.

On the other hand, the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) welcomed the food vision’s emphasis on plant-based options and local sourcing.

“This is an opportunity to show millions of people that plant-based proteins are a better alternative for the planet and can also support sports performance,” EVU policy manager Rafael Pinto told Euronews.

Pinto cites significant scientific evidence showing that a completely plant-based diet can support athletic performance and muscle recovery without any downsides.

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring proper protein and carbohydrate intake and educating athletes and their teams on plant-based alternatives.

“The need for athletes to eat a diet high in animal protein is a myth that was busted long ago. Those who perpetuate this view at these Olympics are not basing their arguments on science,” he argued.