Food during sporting events is a major concern for organisers, who are working with hoteliers and restaurateurs to offer a variety of healthy dishes to meet the needs of athletes and the tastes of those accompanying them, as well as guests wishing to discover traditional cuisine.
Nouri Brahmi, head chef at one of the hotels hosting participants in the African Beach Games (Hammamet 2023), which closed on Friday, said “providing suitable meals for around 700 athletes, in addition to volunteers and guests at the Games, was a very delicate task, as it was necessary to satisfy all tastes, especially those of participants from African countries with different dietary traditions. This is, while taking into account the nature of the food offered to athletes participating in several sport disciplines.»
In a statement to TAP, Brahmi said that “coordination meetings were held before the start of the African Beach Games to review the preparations to be made at the logistical and human level to provide meals for around 700 guests (athletes, coaches and support staff) staying at the hotel, in addition to 300 meals for the volunteers who contributed to the successful organisation of these Games. This was huge number that required extra effort and fortunately we managed to do it,” he said.
He added: “Holding these games in Yasmine Hammamet was an opportunity for us to showcase the richness and diversity of Tunisian cuisine. We have also tried to offer dishes from international cuisine to suit all tastes, given the presence of a large number of athletes and guests from different cultures.”
“Couscous, brik, tajine and other traditional dishes were very well received and admired by the African visitors. We have even received requests to prepare them again, and of course we have responded to our customers’ requests to showcase Tunisia’s world-famous culinary heritage and gastronomy,” he further indicated.
The second edition of the African Beach Games, which ended on Friday evening in the seaside resort of Yasmine Hammamet, was attended by more than 2,300 guests, including athletes, support staff, technicians, referees, officials and eminent sports personalities.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse