McDonald's USA Launches Contest to Send 10 Kids to Vancouver for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

OAK BROOK, Ill. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - McDonald's USA is offering a unique opportunity for young people from across the country to attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February as a McDonald's Champion Kid (MCK) and hometown correspondent.

Olympic Gold Medal gymnast and MCK Ambassador, Shawn Johnson, joins McDonald's in inviting 11-14 year-olds to enter an online contest at www.mcdonalds.com/championkids for a chance to become a McDonald's Champion Kid. As part of a larger global McDonald's Champion Kids program, the selected U.S. kids will attend Olympic Winter Games sporting events, meet athletes and kids from around the world, tour the cultural sights of Vancouver and Whistler, and share their stories and perspectives about the Games with their local communities back home.

"The McDonald's Champion Kids program is a dream-come-true opportunity for young people to attend the Vancouver Games and to inspire people everywhere to appreciate the Olympic Spirit through their eyes," said Neil Golden, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald's USA. "This program is one of many ways we aim to bring joy and fun to families every day."

The online contest will be open for entries beginning September 30, 2009 through October 30, 2009. Kids ages 11-14 (with parent or guardian consent) are eligible to submit an online essay and video or photo to demonstrate what the Olympic Values of friendship, excellence and respect mean to them, and explain why they should be chosen to represent their hometown as a McDonald's Champion Kid.

Entries will be judged by a panel of Olympic athletes, including Johnson, along with Alpine snowboarder Graham Watanabe, freestyle mogul skier Patrick Deneen, speed skaters Jennifer Rodriguez and J.R. Chelski, and basketball greats Alonzo Mourning and Dwight Howard. In addition, McDonald's is working with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), an organization encouraging kids to strive for excellence and teamwork while being physically active, to assist with the contest judging.

"I will never forget the magical feeling of my first Olympic Games," said Johnson. "To serve as the U.S. Ambassador of the McDonald's Champion Kids program and give 10 lucky kids a chance to experience the world's greatest sporting event is an honor. I can't wait to meet them in Vancouver."

The McDonald's Champion Kids program debuted at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as part of the company's ongoing commitment to children's well-being. The program was created to inspire children to become more physically active and to enable kids from across the globe to travel and experience the Games first-hand.

During the 2008 Summer Games, more than 200 kids from 40 countries traveled to Beijing for an opportunity to experience the Games, meet athletes, visit the Olympic Village and view the wonders of China. In addition, many of the kids served as hometown correspondents reporting their stories and experiences back to their local media outlets.

For 2009 MCK contest information and rules, please visit www.mcdonalds.com/championkids.

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, which first began more than 40 years ago. 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 Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games mark McDonald's seventh Olympic Games as a Worldwide Partner and eighth as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. McDonald's current sponsorship will continue through the 2012 Games in London.

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information on McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com or log on at any of the 10,000 Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants.

No Purchase Necessary. Making a purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Many will enter, 10 will win. Contest begins on September 30, 2009 at 12:01:00 AM Central Time (CT) and ends October 30, 2009 PM CT. You must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or DC age 11 to 14 as of September 30, 2009 with parent or legal guardian permission to enter and participate. Contest winners are determined by independent judges as defined in the Official Rules. See Official Rules at www.mcdonalds.com/championkids for restrictions, promotion entry deadlines, prize information and complete details. Void outside the 50 U.S./DC and where prohibited. *Dates and length of trip are subject to change without notice.

(c) 2009 McDonald's

Molly McKenna, McDonald's USA
(630) 623-6593
molly.mckenna@us.mcd.com
or
Heather Johnson, GolinHarris
(312) 729-4326
hjohnson@golinharris.com