LOCOG promises to serve best food during Olympics

LONDON - The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on Wednesday revealed details of the food and drink that will be served to the millions of spectators and thousands of athletes during the Games this summer.

Over 14 million meals will be served during the Games, across 40 locations - the largest peace time catering operation in the world and 1.2 million meals will be served to athletes, comprising 1300 different dishes.

LOCOG said that 833 spectator concessions featuring more than 150 different types of dishes will showcase the great diversity and quality of British food at affordable prices.

As well as the millions of ticket holders and spectators, LOCOG is also responsible for feeding more than 15,000 athletes across both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The primary concern of the 23,900 athletes and team officials is to make sure they perform to their peak on competition days. Their ability to do this depends in no small part on the provision of familiar and nutritionally balanced food and drink, which will be available at exactly the right time of day or night.

The main dining room seats over 5000 athletes and can fit the equivalent of 880 double decker buses. The room consists of four zones including British, European, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean dishes and caters for special diets such as Halal, Kosher, low salt and allergens.

In line with London 2012's sustainability commitments, all fruit, vegetables and cereals are Red Tractor accredited, British and seasonal where available. ?All dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry is also Red Tractor accredited as a minimum.

All fish, with the sole exception of squid, is sustainable including the complete exclusion of species and stocks identified by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as "fish to avoid" and all wild-caught fish meeting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

In addition, bananas, tea, coffee, sugar and white and rose wine are Fairtrade or ethically sourced and traditional cheeses are British. Eggs are British Lion mark free range and all chocolate sold is Fairtrade or ethically sourced. Another integral part to London 2012's sustainability commitments is the ambitious aim to become the first ever Zero Waste Games.