Sponsoring champion kids

The children will have the chance to see the Games, meet Olympic athletes, visit cultural sights and interact with kids from across the globe.

"With the McDonald's Champion Kids programme, 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."

Six-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps is serving as McDonald's Global Ambassador for the programme. Phelps was joined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) Wang Wei, People's Republic of China Olympic gold medalist and McDonald's Champion Kids Ambassador in China Guo Jingjing, and other local dignitaries, at the launch event on 9 August.

"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 unique Champion Kids programme 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.

In addition to the McDonald's Champion Kids programme, the company will activate its Olympic Games plan, 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. The three other McDonald's restaurants will serve spectators, officials and coaches, as well as the 20,000 media expected on site.
  
• McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew - McDonald's will honor an unprecedented number of restaurant employees by bringing 1,500 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®.
  
• 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 became an official sponsor of the Olympic Games in 1976. As a leading global foodservice retailer, the company has more than 30,000 local restaurants in 118 countries; with approximately 70% of the franchises owned and operated by independent local men and women.

For more information, visit: www.mcdonalds.com

Source: eMediaWire.com