
McDonald’s plans to support the Vancouver Olympics are heating-up.
This global foodservice giant, one of the top sponsors of the Olympic Games, has a varied menu of promotions designed to promote fan interest.
Ever since the Summer 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, McDonald’s has been serving-up its favorites for athletes and spectators at these host cities. Top-performing staffers at its Canadian restaurants have been chosen to man the restaurants at the two Olympic villages in Vancouver and Whistler during the February 12 – 28 period.
The company is conducting several special programs to highlight these Games and its sponsorship.
Once again, McDonald’s will be hosting children at these Winter Olympics. Its Champion Kids initiative, which was introduced at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, provides children with the chance to attend the Games. Eleven Canadian kids were chosen “based on their commitment to fitness and leading an active lifestyle, for demonstrating leadership among their peers, and for participating in a variety of extracurricular activities”.
Further, its philanthropic Ronald McDonald House is supporting the construction of three world-call accessible playgrounds near the Olympic venue locations.
Of course, you can always count on promotional giveaways like McDonald’s water bottles and pins to further heighten fan excitement in what may very well be the best Winter Olympics ever.
At a time when many corporations are cutting back on expenses in this turbulent economy, McDonald’s long-standing and diversified support is commendable.