48,000 meals a day: Feeding an Olympic Village

"2000 staff at peak hours" but there is "no contact with locals?" How does that work?

Sad that so many efforts are wasted by making the experience of eating a rushed, pressured thing, all because having bad olympics is still more profitable than having no olympics (for a few people of course).

The beauty of place will be evident in the broadcasts as if an infomercial bringing the hordes to Japan. That it will fluff up industrial tourism prior, during and after the games have concluded.

That's all very nice. BUT! Everyone in the world already knows about Japan, it is not exactly some microscopic country, it is a third largest economy with all that manga, anime, BABYMETAL and Randoseru Backpacks that became such a fashion hit in France. Also, we do not want hordes of COVID infected tourists coming to Japan either...

Thank you Richard Gallagher. Finally a sensible post, not bitter, not hysterical. Just the bare truth.

while some school kids have to stand in line for a daily meal at volunteer group eatery

The Olympics, as has been indicated by numerous sources: are about the IOC and broadcasting contracts. Which is where billions of dollars pass hands. Ticket sales, which go to the host nation, are paltry in measure.

The Olympics is similar to a franchise. The host country supplies the entire infrastructure. Contractors and suppliers profit from the work. Which includes stadiums, venues, housing, food service, housekeeping and all & any needs are supplied by the host nation. Almost all costs are borne by the host country.

The IOC, has an actual bidding process, for which host countries actually spend large sums to acquire the games. Knowing full well, there are no revenues that will offset the cost of building the venues and conveniences required. Those monies vanish into the pockets of the very few. There is no return on investment for Tokyo or Japan, just a bill for the taxpayers.

The buy-in is that, as in the Tokyo Games there will be a flood of spectators who will be converted into tourists. The beauty of place will be evident in the broadcasts as if an infomercial bringing the hordes to Japan. That it will fluff up industrial tourism prior, during and after the games have concluded.

Indeed. Hopefully, the Tokyo Olympics will reveal the folly of The Games. These games were to be the endgame for Abe, to end his reign with the glory of holding the Olympics, as is he has wandered off into exile. Suga and Koike grabbed that ring supposing it would propel them to 'greatness' and further their power.

Incase 18 thousand tons of food a day doesn't mean much that's enough food for over 4 million westerners... Closer to 10 million people in developing countries. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Considering Japan wastes over 20million tons of food a year, around 7 of which was still edible at the time it was disposed of, I really don't think this will change those numbers. Food waste is a separate issue here... 18 thousand tons of edible food a day. Every single day...

Yes, sad for the Olympic athletes and the Paralympic athletes @Mark 11:44am but perhaps the real sympathy should go toward the working people of Japan, eating the scraps when Tokyo’s gala feast is over?

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tokyo-olympics-funded-with-taxpayers-money-is-the-cost-worth-it-7175031.html

However, it is a problem @Mark 11:38am: “No Problem for as long as the taxpayer funds are left alone.”

Japan’s National body of taxpayers are paying at least 57% of the total bill for Tokyo’s Olympic Games.

Does the menu seem more appetizing now?

And how many tones a day of it is turned in to food waste?

48,000 meals a day, with some open around the clock. 700 menu options,

Could you imagine if the J govt. had put this much time, money and effort into feeding the Japanese homeless and those in poverty and need?

Plus, with all these restrictions, the athletes are being gypped of a true Olympic experience. Shame on the IOC and for the spineless JOC/JGVT for allowing this.

I really feel bad for the athletes, never in the history of the games were the people of the host nation are NOT welcoming them or the whole event.

No Problem for as long as the taxpayer funds are left alone.

This is like the too numerous Japanese TV shows where they showcase a foreign visitor trying a fish organ delicacy from an obscure hamlet and having an ecstatic life changing experience.

Except this time the performance focused foreigners have no interest in trying these 'delicacies' and the taxpaying public is on the hook to pay for this spectacle of national culinary pride.

It is never going to happen with a media that cares about showing food programs than doing their journalistic duty of digging the truth and bringing to light. Even when hard pressed and they decide to provide some less important documents, 80 percent of the documents will be blacken out and unreadable with the pretense of maintaining privacy.

very true. But maybe wikileaks will come through...

So much useless manpower. Could build another island while in Japan.

@AlyRustom 9:59am.(you could be watching it on nightly JTV?)

Noooooo!!! I do not allow JTV in my home brother!

Mainly Netflix Prime and Youtube. We can get streaming news through Youtube. And yes, the Olympics do come up, but its not the only thing they talk about. If it was NHK, you wouldn't hear anything else. They would be describing Bach's movements in exquisite detail until your brain started leaking from your ears and they would just sit there and discuss the Olympic Village's MENU- as if ANYONE gives an Unko...

SO glad I don't watch NHK. But seriously, I think they are overdoing it with the Olympic reporting and it may have the opposite effect of what they are hoping for.

Now people are resigned to the Olympics being held, but with overreporting on it the hostility just might increase. That's my prediction. I mean, does the general public REALLY care about the Olympic Village's mess hall?

Excellent points, dr.lucifer @10:56am:

- “never going to happen. media that cares more about food programs than doing their journalistic duty, digging for truth and bringing to light. Even hard pressed, they decide to provide less important documents, 80% blackened out and unreadable with the pretense of maintaining privacy.” -

Please continue your efforts to question and call out everything. Media should

- “care more about doing their journalistic duty, digging for truth and bringing to light.” -

Wouln't it be nice to think after this debacle is over, that the public will be able to learn, where all the money was spent, which corporations and individuals got the money, where the money came from, and what the money was used for.

It is never going to happen with a media that cares about showing food programs than doing their journalistic duty of digging the truth and bringing to light. Even when hard pressed and they decide to provide some less important documents, 80 percent of the documents will be blacken out and unreadable with the pretense of maintaining privacy.

Great idea! @zichi 9:59am -“I would hope the food waste is being given to the foodbank NPO's? Probably not!” - https://japan-foodbank.jp/

Better yet, cancel the ongoing Olympics fiasco and donate ALL THAT FOOD to all the NOW homeless & elderly, temporary construction workers who labored to build the various venues & villages. (The media’s not covering that but they are there!)

How many women’s & children’s shelters could also be supported by this Olympic gluttony?

I am so tired of articles about the Olympics. It seems that the rest of the world has stopped and nothing exists but the Olympics. I wish there would be no more than 1 or 2 articles a day that mention the games and the rest devoted to other stuff. In addition to hating the fact that the games are going on despite most people's opposition, it just seems that our noses are being rubbed in it by being fed unimportant details about the games and about Bach...

Just get on with it, and stop pretending that the bubbly happy articles are going to make us more upbeat about the games. they're not. Personally, I'm already experiencing Olympic fatigue and the games haven't even started yet

I will give it to the Japanese, ¥100 cup noodles, udon, ramen is generally the same or better then a resturants. That's impressive. Not that I'm a fan of either. Certainly be cheeper than a "chief" preparing it. And you can do it in your room. Also I was under the impression most teams bought dietitians and cooks. As part of the Olympic * family.

@Droll Quarry

It's not uncommon for teams to bring their own chefs to the games. For the Beijing games America went as far as to bring their own food. I'd say most of the affluent countries will have people on staff for food.

I'm not sure they will have enough time to try the Japanese food? 

Gosh, hadn't thought of that. This is so true. What athlete is going to eat anything outside of their prescribed diet, especially just before competing?

Organisers have got it wrong here, especially considering athletes won't be hanging around, in principle, following their event.

Okonomiyaki and takoyaki are lesser known Japanese dishes? News to me.

I remember a few years ago the French brought their own chef to the Olympics, think it might have been to Korea.

I’m sure the world is dying to eat udon…..

get outta here with that noise!

the athletes want protein and they want it now!

who is paying for this?

Wouln't it be nice to think after this debacle is over, that the public will be able to learn, where all the money was spent, which corporations and individuals got the money, where the money came from, and what the money was used for.

I'm not sure they will have enough time to try the Japanese food? I was a registered dietitian in NZ and worked with top athletes. There's an almost 0 percent chance athletes will eat anything outside their plan before an during competition. Then they get kicked out of the village after they complete right? I don't see them having a chance to try much of the Japanese dishes.

@snowy. If you live in Japan and pay taxes then you are (as am I)

18,000 people at a time and its cafeterias will serve up to 48,000 meals a day, with some open around the clock.

2,000 staff at peak hours to meet the needs of all.

You can not make bubble to serve 18,000 people, those 2,000 staffs will be in and out everyday.

Everyone but the IOC *@Dangobong’it! 6:41am***:**

“who is paying for this?”

who is paying for this?