Team GB donates Olympic equipment and food to French charities. GETTY IMAGES

Britain's Olympic team is expressing its gratitude to France, the host of the Paris Games, by donating equipment, furniture, and food to local charities. The gesture includes giving king-size mattresses, sports gear, and leftover food to communities in and around Paris.

"Our French hosts have been wonderful in extending a welcome to us and our athletes," said British Olympic Association head Hugh Robertson on Tuesday. So, it is an absolute pleasure that, where we can, we give something back to those communities."

The donations include king-size mattresses and furniture, which will be distributed to communities in and around Paris through the French charity "Les Restos du Coeur". 

Team GB have donated equipment to French charities. GETTY IMAGES
Team GB have donated equipment to French charities. GETTY IMAGES

Additionally, any remaining food from the shipments sent to Team GB during the Games will be given to the charity, as well as to local food banks in Reims and Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris where the Athletes' Village is located.

Sports equipment is also being donated to Clichy, the site of Team GB's Performance Lodge, as well as to Saint Germain-en-Laye and Reims, where many British athletes trained for the Games.