Fast food giant boosts Olympic athletes, kids
McDonald's will select three talented kids to support Thai athletes during the London Olympic Games and offer an incentive of Bt1 million for any Thai gold medal winner.
Hester Chew, chief executive of McThai, said the three winners of McDonald’s Champions of Play will receive a free trip with accommodation to London for the Games in August.
“The McDonald’s Champions of Play will make dreams come true for Thai kids at the Olympics, giving them the chance to visit the Olympic Village and meet athletes close up,’’ said the Chew as representative of McDonald’s, the official restaurant of the London Games.
Following a round of essaywriting ending on May 8, the top 30 competition entrants aged 6 to 12 will take part in several activities to decide the three winners. Visit www.facebook.com/mcthai or any McDonald’s outlet for more details.
“We are proud to support Thai athletes with Bt1 million for a gold, Bt500,000 for a silver and Bt300,000 for a bronze. McDonald’s is also hosting a range of promotions to celebrate the Games, such as free Coke to celebrate medals,’’ said Chew.
“If a Thai wins a medal on Tuesday, people can come to any McDonald’s outlet on Wednesday for free Coke. They don’t have to bring anything,’’ added the Singaporean, whose company has been an Olympic partner for 44 years.
So far, 25 Thai athletes from 10 sports have qualified for the July 27August 12 Games. Olympic Committee of Thailand secretarygeneral Charouck Arirachakaran has pinpointed boxing, taekwondo and weightlifting as the three most likely sports for a Thai medal. But Thai athletes will also be vying in archery, equestrian events, rowing, skeet and trap, shooting, swimming and track and field.
“There’s still time for our athletes to qualify for the Games. I hope we will win more medals than at the last Games in Beijing,’’ said Charouck. Thailand won only two golds in Beijing, from boxer Somjit Jongjohor and weightlifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon.
