McDonald's® Unveils Sponsorship Plans for London 2012 Olympic Games

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OAK BROOK, Ill., July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's Corporation, a Worldwide Olympic Partner and Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games, today announced  its sponsorship plans for London 2012 that will focus on championing happy, active kids. The new McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games features five-time U.S. Olympic Swimmer and mom, Dara Torres, as the global ambassador.

McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games

Building on the success of McDonald's kids' program at the Olympic Games in Beijing and Vancouver, McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games will bring kids from around the world together for a unique experience in London. The new global program will encourage a balanced approach to nutrition and activity for children.  

Participating McDonald's countries will initiate grassroots activities for children ages 6 to 10. Through a local market selection process, up to 200 children and a guardian will travel to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.

"For the first time ever, McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games will tour and play with athletes at the actual Olympic venues," said Kevin Newell, McDonald's Global Chief Brand Officer. "This will be an unforgettable, inspiring moment for our champions, along with attending the Games, seeing McDonald's Chef demonstrations, taking an exclusive tour of the Olympic Village dining area, visiting London's cultural sites, and making new friends."  

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said, "McDonald's has been a long-time and valued partner of the Olympic Movement. We appreciate McDonald's incredible ability to reach millions of fans with innovative, inspiring programs that connect with the Olympic Spirit. We are working together to promote sport and inspire children around the world to lead balanced, active lifestyles."

McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games program also can be enjoyed by families across the globe through:  

• A website offering balanced eating and fun play facts, and challenges
• Digital engagement – allowing kids everywhere to track their physical activities online
• Special Happy Meal packaging featuring information and tips on balanced eating and fun play

Program ambassador Dara Torres said, "I want to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families, so it's a natural fit for me to join McDonald's today, and in the years ahead, as we inspire happy and active kids.  Together, through the new McDonald's Champions of Play for the Olympic Games, we can reach millions of people about the benefits of balanced food choices and play for kids everywhere."

McDonald's Quality Food Served at the Games

As the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games, McDonald's is the only branded retail food service provider to feed the athletes. McDonald's will have four new Olympic venue restaurants: one in the Olympic Village, one in the Main Press Center, and two in the Olympic Park for spectators – one of which will be the largest McDonald's freestanding restaurant in the world.

McDonald's will offer a variety of familiar favorites and popular items from the UK. To help celebrate the connection between the Olympics and families, McDonald's will serve its Happy Meal® for the first time in its Olympic venue restaurants including fruit, vegetable and dairy options.

"Competing at the Olympic level is the result of thousands of hours of dedication in many areas, including nutrition. Having access to familiar, quality food in the Athlete's Village can support our athletes' success at the Games," said, Dr. Nanna Meyer, RD, CSSD, United States Olympic Committee Senior Sports Dietician. "When it comes to food, athletes love options. It's great that McDonald's offers a range of balanced choices, which can easily fit into the eating patterns of athletes of all ages and different physical demands."

McDonald's UK Open Farms

As part of the company's commitment to food quality, McDonald's UK has opened its doors for customers and media to see some of the 17,500 British and Irish farms that provide the quality ingredients and food for McDonald's UK menu, and the London 2012 Olympic Games.  

"By opening up our supply chain, we are allowing people to see for themselves the high-quality ingredients that make up our menu – everything from beef, to lettuce and potatoes," said Jill McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, McDonald's UK. "We are championing the farmers who supply our restaurants throughout the UK every day, and who will also help us supply food to our four Olympic restaurants at the Games."

McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew – Largest Team in Olympic History

McDonald's best-of-the-best crew and managers will work at its Olympic venue restaurants. In the next year, McDonald's will select 2,000 of its top-performing restaurant staff from the UK and around the world – the largest Olympic team ever assembled – to serve the world's top athletes, coaches, spectators, media and officials at the Games. These brand ambassadors will have the opportunity to meet Olympic athletes, attend competitions, participate in their own sports and activities in the Royal Parks, visit cultural sites in London, and socialize with their international peers.

About McDonald's and the Olympic Games

McDonald's commitment to the Olympic Movement began in 1968, when the company airlifted hamburgers to U.S. athletes in Grenoble, France, after they reported being homesick for American food. McDonald's has served its menu of choice and variety to millions of athletes, their coaches, families and fans, and will be doing so again in London. The London 2012 Olympic Games marks the ninth consecutive Games for McDonald's as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games and the only branded food service retailer feeding the athletes.

About McDonald's

McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 32,000 locations serving more than 64 million customers in 117 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. To learn more about the company, please visit www.aboutmcdonalds.com and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/mcdonaldscorp) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/mcdonaldscorp). Click on Media Center to access our London 2012 Olympic Games online media resource center.

To view McDonald's London 2012 One-Year-Out Global Olympic Webcast, please visit http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/epk/2012LondonOlympicGames.

© 2011 McDonald's

CONTACTS:
Suzanne Valliere, McDonald's
+1 630-623-7555
[email protected]

Jeff Pawola, GolinHarris
+1 312-729-4211
[email protected]

SOURCE McDonald’s Corporation