Paris Olympics and plant-based catering: “Athletes want to be part of the change”

by: ProVeg

Former Olympian praises move to increase vegetarian options for the Summer Games

Former US Olympian, Dotsie Bausch, has joined with ProVeg International to commend the Paris Olympic organisers' decision to provide largely plant-based catering at the globe’s biggest sporting event, which starts this month.

Cyclist Dotsie Bausch, a plant-based food advocate who won silver at the London Olympics in 2012, said many athletes will welcome the shift to more plant-based catering because they want to be part of positive change. At least 60% of the food provided to spectators at the Paris event is going to be vegetarian.

“I hear from athletes all the time. They are curious. They are passionate. They want to be part of the change,” Dotise said. “They want to be on the right side of history in our fight.

“And they also want to win medals. I tell them that premium nutrition is the key to unlocking the potential they never knew they had within, and it all starts with the beauty, the complexity and the power of plants.”

Dotsie is the executive director of Switch4Good, a non-profit organisation that encourages people to live better and do more by thinking critically about consuming dairy. Switch works with clinicians, athletes, social justice warriors, enlightened policy-makers, and progressive corporations to promote ethical lifestyles and widespread behavioural change related to how we eat.

“Dotsie is an inspiration to us all,” Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg, said. “She shows us that not only can you be healthy on a plant-based diet, you can also be one of the world’s best athletes too.

“We hope that future Olympic Games will gradually increase the plant-based food provision for spectators and athletes alike, both for health reasons, and for climate reasons. Every event in the global spotlight needs to send out a clear message on how to reduce emissions in the face of climate change and plant-based foods are very much part of the solution.”

In their Food Vision, the Games organisers are aiming to ensure that at least 60% of meals provided to spectators are vegetarian.

For volunteers and employees, suppliers, the media, the Olympic and Paralympic family, and hospitality, the organisers are planning to ensure 50% of all meals are vegetarian and/or at least 50% of all animal proteins are replaced by plant-based proteins.

As well as welcoming the Paris catering decision, Dotsie says the next hosts, Los Angeles, could go even further.

“Watch out Paris, because Los Angeles 2028 deeply understands the truth about animal foods and their destructive forces, and maybe even more than Paris, wants to step up in a meaningful way,” Dotsie said. “Switch4Good has been working with them for a few years and will continue to work in every capacity we are able to help in to make LA 2028 90% plant-based.”