Laksa, mee siam at the Olympics
Yes, it'll be available for Singapore's athletes at the Olympics
Laksa, chicken rice, sup tulang and mee siam.
These local delights are enough to make Singaporeans salivate.
And the Republic's contingent who will be heading to Rio for the Olympic Games in August will be able to get their fix of these delicacies, thanks to the Singapore House.
Through a specially curated menu of 88 food items put together by a team of dieticians from the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI), together with Elson Cheong, the executive sous chef at Pan Pacific Singapore, athletes will be able to enjoy local food that will not only be tasty but also nutritious.
Speaking before the taste-testing event at the Pan Pacific Hotel yesterday, Richard Swinbourne, the head and senior sport dietician at the SSI and a former New Zealand Rugby Union dietician, said: "In the career of any athlete, the provision of sports science input, including nutrition, makes all the difference in helping them achieve their career bests.
TASTE OF HOME
"In this case, we are happy to work with Pan Pacific Singapore and chef Elson to put together a menu that is not only nutritious and beneficial for our athletes but also one that will provide a taste of home and satisfy that local food craving."
A 10-minute drive from the Olympic Village - the main residence for the athletes - the Singapore House aims to complement the services provided by the Village with round-the-clock holistic care, in addition to giving athletes an alternative space to rest and recuperate.
The House will be run by a team of 18 staff from the SSI, including doctors, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists and a chef, who will provide the athletes with the kind of support and services they receive back home.
Sailor Jovina Choo already counts herself as one of the athletes who will visit the Singapore House in Rio when she's free, and will definitely tuck into the food.
"One of the things that I miss whenever I am away is the food," she said.
"It's a great idea that such a place is made available to us, because it means I'll still be able to enjoy the food that I like which may not be available in Brazil.
"I've tasted some of the food and they're pretty good and it gives me a peace of mind in a sense that food will be one less thing I have to worry about when I am there."
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