Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2021: The Indian contingent which has started to move into the Olympic Games Village has sent a request for 100 plus electric kettles to meet the athletes’ requirement for hot water.
Team India was largely satisfied with the food and facilities provided at the Athletes’ Village, other than the lack of kettles to boil water. They have now sent a request to the Indian Embassy for more than 100 electric kettles.
“The request for kettles has come from the athletes. They need to drink warm water in the morning. We have requested the Indian Embassy here and it should be arranged soon,” India’s Deputy Chef de Mission Prem Verma told the Press Trust of India news agency on Monday, July 19.
A major chunk of the Indian contingent arrived in Tokyo on Sunday and has spent close to two days at the Olympic Games Village.
A team official told PTI that accommodation is spick and span but cleaning of the rooms will be done every third day to minimise their contact with the housekeeping staff as organisers face a huge task of staging the Games in COVID-19 times.
On that front, Verma said: “To minimise contact, the Local Organising Committee has advised cleaning every third day but if someone wants to get the room cleaned daily, they can ask for it. The towels can be changed from the ground floor on a daily basis.”
The athletes are being served food from all around the world including India. Indian table tennis player G. Sathiyan said he has no issues with the food. “It has been smooth for us. No complaints at all. I had daal and parotta yesterday and it was fine,” Sathiyan said.
An Indian team official said: “When you come to another country you should embrace its culture including food. There is nothing wrong with the Indian food being served in the dining hall but one should not compare with what we get back home.
“There is a lot of variety. The dining area covers two floors and proper social distancing is followed with fibreglass separating the seats.”
Now all that Team India needs is for Polly to put the kettle on.
