Winter Olympics 'startling' food and drink prices as supporters give same verdict

Food prices at the Winter Olympics have left fans nearly as impressed as the spectacular athletic performances. The action at the Milan Cortina Games has already begun ahead of the grand opening ceremony on Friday.

Team GB are determined to surpass their medal tally from the previous Winter Games in Beijing, where they secured one gold and one silver. UK Sport has set a target of between three and seven medals for the Milan Cortina Games. Supporters will be paying close attention from afar, with coverage shared between the BBC and TNT Sports. Yet it's the cost of food for those in attendance that has garnered praise on social media. Charging high prices for refreshments at major sporting events has become commonplace. However, images circulating online show that the Winter Games are providing more reasonable options.

An nduja pizza is listed at roughly £7.82, while margherita, ham and cheese and vegetarian varieties are all available for £6.95. This same price point extends to a gluten-free sandwich option.

The drinks on sale include americano coffee and hot tea, both priced at £2.62. Those seeking alcoholic refreshment can purchase prosecco for £6.95 or a spritz cocktail for £7.82.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB!Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

For fans wanting a snack, crisps are available for £2.61 and popcorn for £2.17. Sweet-toothed spectators can indulge in candy priced at £1.74, various muffins at £3.04 or a gluten-free brownie for £3.48. Another photograph shows that a cheeseburger, cheese and bacon burger, chicken burger and vegetarian burger all cost, while a classic hot dog costs £6.95.

Considering the notoriously steep food costs at sporting events, several social media users have applauded the Winter Games' pricing structure. One Reddit user said: "That is startlingly affordable." Another replied: "Honestly it's cheaper than I would have expected."

A third responded: "Yeah, they're standard European prices, but really no massive markups like I too would have expected." One commenter joked: "I've seen dive bars with more expensive menus." Another offered a prediction: "A LOT cheaper. It'll be 3x for the American games."

Drawing comparisons with British sporting events, one user posted: "This is very reasonable, you would never see prices this low at any stadium/event/venue in or around London where I am." In a similar vein, another fan observed: "As an American, I'm horrified by how that doesn't look very expensive." Capturing the overall sentiment, one user declared: "These are bargains. I cannot believe it."