McDonald's Celebrates Friendship by Sending 100 Kids From Around the World to Be in the Rio 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony

OAK BROOK, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 03/14/16 -- For the first time ever, McDonald's is rewarding kids from around the world with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. These ambassadors will be led by some of the world's all-time greatest Olympians and their children.

The McDonald's Olympics Kids Program will celebrate the spirit of friendship which is a key value of the Olympic Games and include kids from around the world who embody the spirit of friendship. McDonald's Olympics Kids will be joined by a gold-medal panel of ambassadors including U.S. Olympic gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci and their 9-year old son, U.S. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres and her 9-year old daughter, and U.S. Olympic soccer player Julie Foudy and her 9-year old daughter and 8-year old son. Also, Olympians and their children from Australia, Brazil and Japan will participate in the program.

As a long-time supporter and partner of the Olympic Movement, McDonald's has been sending kids to experience the Olympic Games since Beijing 2008. For Rio 2016, it will be the first time McDonald's is sending kids to participate in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, which will be seen by 80,000 spectators in Rio's famed Maracan� stadium and live by billions of television viewers worldwide.

Additionally, the McDonald's Olympics Kids Program will allow kids to experience athletic events and meet athletes. Nearly 100 kids aged 8 to 12 years old will be participating from 18 markets around the world, including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Thailand, U.K., and U.S. Each country will conduct their own local promotion to select kids to represent their respective country.

Since 1996, McDonald's has been serving food to the media, athletes and their friends and family. The restaurant will be located in the International Zone of the Olympic Village, and the menu will include global iconic favorites like Chicken McNuggets, Big Macs, Hamburgers and World Famous Fries. Breakfast will be served all day to celebrate the recent launch of All Day Breakfast in the U.S., and will include local Brazilian favorites like Pão de Queijo and the Egg, Cheese and Bacon sandwich made to order with fresh cracked eggs.

An iconic McDonald's Brazil dessert center will be open for visitors to Olympic venues in the Barra Olympic Park. The dessert center will serve local flavored McFlurry desserts and more. Finally, there will be nearly 100 McDonald's restaurants in and around Rio open and excited to welcome guests from around the world, all of which will feature traditional Brazilian menu items like Pão de Queijo, as well as the iconic Happy Meal.

McDonald's participation at the Olympic Games will uphold and advance the Rio 2016 Food Vision and the IOC Agenda 2020. We will be serving Filet-O-Fish sandwiches made with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish, as well as Rainforest Alliance certified coffee in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) verified hot cups, both of which support McDonald's commitments to sustainable sourcing and deforestation.

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 McDonald's food. Since then, the company has served its menu of choice and variety to millions of athletes, their coaches, families and fans. Rio 2016 marks the 11th consecutive Games with McDonald's as the Official Partner, serving Olympic athletes and fans at the Games.

About McDonald's McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with approximately 35,000 locations serving customers in more than 100 countries each day. More than 80 percent 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 and Twitter.

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CONTACTS:

David Zlotnik
McDonald's
+1 630-623-4882
[email protected]

Source: McDonald's Corporation

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