London 2012 to be the first Games in history to provide sustainable catering
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are seeking to make history by becoming the first Games in history to encourage entirely sustainable catering during and after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The news comes following a recent review by The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 which is entitled ‘On your marks, get set, grow’, commending the work to date by London 2012 in an attempt to link food and sustainability.
The Commission praised LOCOG’s Food Vision, which plans to offer healthy, affordable and sustainable catering during the Games whilst also celebrating of the diversity of British cuisine through on-site catering.
The ODA has already been recognised for the efforts made to provide Olympic construction and infrastructure workers, healthy, ethical and sustainable foodstuffs: something which the commission has said it would like to see rolled out across construction sites across the country.
Shaun McCarthy, chair of the commission, said: “During the London Games, around 14m meals will be served… [we] must foster a culture of food that embeds sustainable practices into every link of the supply chain, thinking about health, employment and welfare, not just whether food is ‘green’”.
As an International Olympic Committee sponsor, McDonalds will provide around 20% of Games-time meals in the Olympic Park, whilst other sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and Cadbury, for example, will also have a major presence at the venue.
