When we travel to a foreign country, one of the things we are keen to explore is the food it has to offer — armed with medicines to treat heartburn, just in case. But for Indian sportspersons in Paris for the Olympic Games 2024, familiarity is paramount.
Aradhana Sharma | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The 33rd edition of the Olympic Games in Paris kicks off on on July 26 at 11 p.m. (IST). More than 110 participants are at the Olympic village as part of the Indian contingent. Along with them is a team of coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, and for the first time, a nutritionist as well.
“Nutrition plays a major role in their performance. They will have to consume a well-balanced meal and try avoid having something new. When they are in a foreign country, there may not always be dishes they have eaten previously or even know of, and will want guidance. If there is no Indian alternative, I can suggest a close alternative. And in case they suddenly feel tired or unwell, their diet will require some tweaking,” shares Aradhana Sharma, chief nutritionist, IOA (Indian Olympic Association) who is in Paris with the contingent. This is Aradhana’s fourth Olympic cycle in India as a nutritionist, and she has worked with several Olympians, including archer Tarundeep Rai, boxer Amit Panghal, and shooter Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar.
The Asian dining district | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The Olympic village has four dining districts: World, French, Halal, and Asian. These halls will be functional round the clock, but participants will not be allowed to cook anything within the venue. “We were sent the menu well in advance and the Olympic hospitality team was very cooperative in accommodating our requirements as well. The dishes are available with many alternatives. So if it’s a curry, for example, there will be a non-vegetarian variant with different proteins, a vegetarian option, and a plant-based one as well. This is very helpful as we have a lot of vegetarian participants,” says Aradhana.
In the menu, staples like eggs and bread are available across all districts. As part of the Asian district, dishes like prawn Madras, dal, vegetable biryani, lamb korma, butter chicken, and chicken curry with mango are available along with basmati rice. Other than these options, vegetables, fruits, smoothies, and other beverages are also served. The menu served is on an eight-day rotational basis. “The Indian participants, especially the ones at this level, would have participated in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or even in the previous Olympic editions. So they are familiar with what to consume, even non-Indian dishes — some of our participants include quinoa or tofu as part of their diet. But for this event, the IOA has come up with an app to aid them through their stay there. The menu with the dietary details will be available on it, and they can check any time,” Aradhana says.
German International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach tries food from a salad bar while touring at the Olympic Village | Photo Credit: David Goldman
“The meal plan cannot be the same for all. We don’t even generalise it within each sport. It is very personal,” she adds. “For example, if an athlete requires 3,000 calories, based on the sport they play, we calculate the protein, fat, and carbohydrate quantities in percentage. We don’t let carbohydrates go below 55% of the total calories. If they are an endurance athlete, 60-65% should come from carbohydrates. But a power sport athlete will require more protein,” explains Aradhana.
Along with the training given by coaches, the athletes also work with personal nutritionists as they prepare for events of this scale. “The stamina required to perform well on the day is not built in one day. I got their diet chart and the data from their personal nutritionists a couple of months back and have been working with that. Some athletes only qualified at the last minute, but we have managed to get their diet plan and allergies or preferences.”
The protein counter | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The diet plan is exclusively curated for female participants to match their nutritional requirements and menstrual cycles. “ Female participants are encouraged to keep a log of their symptoms around their cycles, so we ask them to avoid dishes that cause bloating or cramps. Around this time, we also try to increase the protein and micronutrients in their diet,” explains Aradhana.
While these stringent diet plans and restrictions are in place, there is always room for comfort food and indulgences. “There is an emotional connection with food. If some participant has had difficulties in getting acclimatised to the new place, they would want to eat something comforting like a bowl of ice cream. So based on their fitness goal, we allow cheat days once in five or 10 days. This is not just for the Olympics but is followed generally as well. And after their competition is done, they can try anything on the menu and indulge as they want,” she shares.
A general view inside the Olympic village dining area. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
