Olympian Michael Phelps to Serve as Global Ambassador
OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 8 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- As part of McDonald's ongoing commitment to children, the company will launch its newest Olympic Games program, McDonald's Champion Kids, on Aug. 9, 2007 in Beijing.
( Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070807/AQTU080LOGO)
The program will enable up to 300 kids from around the world to travel to the 2008 Olympic Games to share their stories and experiences with their local communities and hometown news outlets. Through this once-in-a-lifetime journey, the children will have the chance to see the Games, meet Olympic athletes, visit cultural sights and interact with kids from across the globe.
Six-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps will serve as McDonald's Global Ambassador for the program. Joining Phelps to kick-off the program at a special media event Aug. 9 in Beijing will be International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) Mr. Wang Wei, People's Republic of China Olympic gold medalist and McDonald's Champion Kids Ambassador in China Guo Jingjing, and other local dignitaries.
"With the McDonald's Champion Kids program, we are making a significant investment to give hundreds of children the experience of a lifetime," said Mary Dillon, McDonald's Global Chief Marketing Officer. "These kids will reach out to thousands more, connecting with their worldwide peers to communicate the sights and sounds of the Olympic Games and the fascinating culture of China. It's another example of our commitment to the enrichment of children."
Support for the Program
"McDonald's unique Champion Kids program mirrors the passion we have for bringing together youth from around the world, connecting cultures and communities as only the Olympic Movement can," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.
"McDonald's is providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for children around the world," said Phelps. "For the kids to experience China and the world's greatest sporting event at one time is simply incredible."
McDonald's Olympic Games Activation
In addition to the McDonald's Champion Kids program, the company will
activate its most comprehensive Olympic Games plan to date, which
includes:
-- Feeding the World's Athletes - For the seventh consecutive Games,
McDonald's will be the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. The
company is planning to build four restaurants in Beijing. One
restaurant will be in the Athlete's Village, where McDonald's will be
the only branded restaurant to feed the athletes, giving them a taste
of home while in China. The three other McDonald's restaurants will
serve spectators, officials and coaches, as well as the 20,000 media
expected on site. Customers will find a wide variety of products,
including favorites such as the Big Mac(R) sandwich and World Famous
Fries(TM), as well as Premium Chicken offerings and Fruit n' Yogurt
Parfaits.
-- McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew - McDonald's will honor an
unprecedented number of restaurant employees by bringing 1,200 best of
the best restaurant crew from China and around the world to the Games
to experience the fun and excitement of serving the world's best
athletes, as well as spectators and media.
-- Giving Back - As part of McDonald's Olympic Games tradition to give
back to the host city, the company will make a lasting contribution to
the host city of Beijing through Ronald McDonald House Charities(R).
-- Bringing the Games to Life - McDonald's restaurants around the world
will bring the excitement of the Games to life for their customers in a
variety of local promotions and activities.
McDonald's Olympic Games History
McDonald's became an Official Sponsor of the Olympic Games in 1976 and has a long-standing commitment to the Olympic Movement. At the 1968 Olympic Winter Games, McDonald's airlifted hamburgers to U.S. athletes competing in Grenoble, France, after they reported being homesick for McDonald's food. Since then, the company has served its menu of choice and variety to millions of athletes, coaches, their families and fans. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mark McDonald's sixth Olympic Games as a Worldwide Partner and seventh as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. McDonald's current sponsorship will continue through the 2012 Games in London.
McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in 118 countries. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. Please visit http://www.mcdonalds.com to learn more about the company.
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