A table for 15,000: Chefs are prepping more than two million meals for the Paris Olympics

Over 40 tonnes of food, equivalent to 1 million croissants will be dished out at the Paris Olympics. Here's what that looks like.

The Paris Olympics will cater to the dietary and cultural requirements of teams from 206 nations. Source: SBS News / Design by Leon Wang

More than 2.2 million meals for guests from 206 nations.

Over 15,000 people to be fed.

More than 40 tonnes of food, equivalent to 1 million croissants, prepared daily.

If you’re thinking this might be meal prep for giants, you’re wrong. This is what the kitchens at the Paris Olympics in July/August will be up to come July.

The once-in-four years international sporting event is big in every way, including how many people it is responsible for feeding.

How much food will be served at the Paris Olympics?

Chef Charles Guilloy, who is leading the Sodexo Live! catering team, will prep and cook for not only the athletes but also their team officials.

Estelle Lamotte, a nutrition and logistics expert who is part of Guilloy's team, said: "The Olympic Games was a no-brainer."

"I’m extremely excited. We have the responsibility of feeding all of the athletes and officials that will be staying in the athletes' village."

Lamotte said the team has been preparing for years for the event.

How will so much cooking impact the environment?

The task is huge not only because it is about quantity.

The chefs at the Paris Olympics also have their eye on catering to cultural and dietary restrictions.

One-third of the available food will be plant-based, with an emphasis on plant protein.

"We are making a menu for 206 nations," Lamotte added.

"That also means different cultures, different habits and making sure there are items that they feel comfortable and familiar with."

Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, halal and kosher dishes will be prepared around the clock for the guests at the athletes’ village.

How will so much food be procured?

While complying with cultural and dietary sensitivities, the catering team at the Paris Olympics say they are also trying to keep things green.

A media release said that: "no ingredients will be imported by air. Nothing".

The Paris Olympics teams also claims their "CO2 emissions will also be halved by doubling the consumption of fruit and vegetables".

It added that 80 per cent of the menu will be locally-sourced, 25 per cent from within a 250 km radius of Paris.

The team has been working with local farmers to ensure the supply matches the required standards of quality and quantity. Certain crops were planted two years in advance.

The Olympic Games will be held in Paris from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.