Healthy and sustainable food will be a feature of this year’s FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship with organisers of the event in the Netherlands working with partners to make a range of healthy food available at venues during the competition. In Arnhem, a unique concept will be launched near the GelreDome stadium at which visitors can enjoy healthy, sustainable and tasty food: the Gelre Food Plaza.

What will be available at the Gelre Food Plaza?

During the first phase of the tournament - from September 23 to October 2 at Arnhem’s GelreDome - various entrepreneurs and organisations will have the opportunity to showcase what the Dutch province of Gelderland has to offer in terms of nutrition.

Innovative and sustainable companies will surprise volleyball fans at the Gelre Food Plaza with menus full of attractive ingredients. There will be food trucks, exhibitors and two pop-up restaurants. Established caterers will offer a range of products, but they will also be joined by start-ups with their own products and concepts. The Gelre Food Plaza will be located in the Fan Zone at the GelreDome and can be visited with a valid ticket.

The concept behind the Gelre Food Plaza

The Netherlands is a frontrunner in the field of food technology and innovation. The initiators of the Gelre Food Plaza concept aim to demonstrate possibilities in the field of healthy and sustainable food. In addition, the goal is to give responsible food a place at a mega event like the World Championships and thus offer visitors a healthy and affordable food alternative. The Gelre Food Plaza has an inspiring function for caterers, governments, athletes and associations.

It is the first time the concept will be presented on such a grand scale. In 2019 (during the European Volleyball Men's Championship) and in 2020 (during the OKT Volleyball Women), there were already Food Courts, but the Gelre Food Plaza has been made significantly larger to welcome more guests.

Michel Everaert - Director of Sports Development and Events at Nevobo:

“We are proud that we can link this global mega event - the Volleyball World Championships - to responsible nutrition, a theme that is very important in the Netherlands. After all, nutrition and sport are inseparable. The way in which the Gelre Food Plaza is being created shows how two sectors, with many different parties, can work together, share knowledge and create something unique.”

Marjolein Bolhuis-Eijsvogel - Manager of Healthy Environment and Public Private Partnership at JOGG:

“It is fantastic that our collaboration with the Nevobo is going to put healthier food on the map at such a major top sport event like the Volleyball World Championships. In the Gelre Food Plaza, but also at the side events in the run-up to and during the World Championships, there is plenty of attention to healthier food. As a forerunner in this area, the association sets a good example in this way.”

Jeroen Wouters - Leader of Global Connections at Foodvalley NL, Innovation Manager of Sports and Nutrition at Sportcentrum Papendal and Eat2Move:

“It is great that the topic of nutrition is being put at the centre of the Volleyball World Championships, connecting it to the world of sport. Through this multi-partner collaboration, an eating environment is created to encourage consumers to make healthy and sustainable food choices. Present and future initiatives will be put forward during this World Championships and contribute to a healthier eating environment during a great event."