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Food Provision at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Expert Review and Future Recommendations
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Food Provision at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Expert Review and Future Recommendations

Fiona Pelly and Susie Parker-Simmons
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Vol.29(4), pp.382-387
2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0175
PMID: 30507255
url
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0175View
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Abstract

Food Services - standards Humans Nutritional Requirements Sports Sports Nutritional Sciences Surveys and Questionnaires
Food provision at the Olympic Games has evolved since the advent of a unified menu, but there are challenges in catering for the expanding cultural and sporting diversity. Continuity between events is difficult due to the changes in location, organising committees, caterers, athletes, support staff and volunteers. Independent review of the food provision by sports nutrition experts has been implemented to help establish some consistency between Olympic Games. The aim of this study was to compare an expert desk top and onsite review of the food provided at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and compare this to a similar review at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A previously developed survey was completed by sports nutrition experts six months prior to the opening of the Rio 2016 Olympic village and during the Olympic Games in September 2016. Questions about the food provision included both scaled and open-ended responses. There was a significantly lower rating for menu variety onsite (p=0.025) versus the desk top review. All aspects of the menu as well as the ability to cater for specific situations rated as 'average' or less. A significantly (p=0.007) lower overall median rating was obtained for Rio (5out of 10) compared to London (8 out of 10), with hot gluten-free items rated as 'poor' at both events. Comments from experts related to lack of variety, sports and recovery foods, absence of signage and inaccurate nutrition labelling. An improved process for expert nutrition review at these events is warranted.

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