"Crying Every Day While Eating"... Athletes Expose Poor Meals at Beijing Olympics

ROC Vasnechova Reveals Lunchbox During Quarantine... "My Stomach Hurt"

Photo by Valeria Vasnechova Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Athletes participating in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics who tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine in China have expressed dissatisfaction with the poor quality of their meals.

Valeria Vasnetsova of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) biathlon team posted a photo of food from the COVID-19 quarantine hotel on her Instagram story on the 5th, captioned "Meals for five days." The photo she posted showed burnt meat, pasta with sauce, and small potatoes. There was also a white chunk presumed to be meat.

Vasnetsova complained, "My stomach hurts, and my complexion has turned pale. Dark circles have formed around my eyes. I just want everything to be over." She added, "I cry every day. It's so hard. I was so hungry that I had to eat all the lumps of fat instead of meat. My weight is dropping, and my bones are showing."

She also pointed out that another ROC team doctor quarantined in the same hotel was provided with a much better diet. Vasnetsova criticized, "I don't understand. Are we being treated like this because we are athletes?" Afterwards, Vasnetsova’s Instagram account was set to private.

The organizing committee reportedly changed the meal plan immediately. An ROC spokesperson told the AP news agency, "It has been confirmed that better food was provided to Vasnetsova. An indoor bicycle for training will also be provided soon."

Meanwhile, Korean athletes in the Beijing Olympic Village have also raised concerns about the boxed meals. Speed skating team member Jung Jae-won (Uijeongbu City Hall) said in an interview regarding meals, "It is very different compared to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics," and added, "I visited the Olympic Village cafeteria on the evening of the day we arrived in Beijing but have not gone back since."

Kim Bo-reum (Gangwon Province Office), who is competing in the women's mass start speed skating event, also said, "Looking at the meal plan made me even want to go home."

Meanwhile, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee is delivering Korean-style boxed meals to athletes from the Crown Plaza Beijing Sun Palace Hotel, about 15 minutes away from the Beijing Olympic Village. It is known that the Korean delegation is currently relying on these boxed meals for their meals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.