"In the spirit of the Olympic Games, we're bringing people together like never before through innovative programs around the world," Dillon said.

Dillon presented samples of television creative from across the globe, including a global TV ad that captures the spirit of unity that the Olympic Games represent and the role McDonald's plays in feeding the athletes as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. She also shared a Canadian TV commercial that salutes parents of athletes. Another ad from Australia features the delights of a real McDonald's Champion Kid in being selected to go to Beijing.

The McDonald's Champion Kids(TM) program is part of the company's ongoing commitment to children's well-being, engaging young people worldwide in activities that focus on body, mind and spirit.

-- More than 200 kids from 40 countries will travel to Beijing for an exclusive opportunity to experience the Games, meet athletes, visit the Olympic Village and see the wonders of China.

-- Countries determined their participant selection process through a combination of physical, mental and verbal skills activities.

-- Many of the kids will also act as youth correspondents reporting their stories and experiences back to their hometown media outlets.

The Lost Ring, an ARG created by McDonald's in collaboration with world-renowned game designer Jane McGonigal, interactive marketer AKQA and the International Olympic Committee, speaks to the company's new approach to engaging and connecting the world's youth culture.

-- The Lost Ring represents the single-largest ARG ever played, with more than two million participants working together online, in multiple languages, spanning 100 countries and culminating in Beijing.

-- Track and Field Olympic Gold Medalist, Edwin Moses, revealed his identity as a blogger in The Lost Ring.

-- In the spirit of community that the game represents, McDonald's will make an additional $100,000 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities(TM) Earthquake Relief in China.

Through the McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew program, a longstanding McDonald's Olympic tradition, the company recognizes and rewards its top restaurant employees.

-- 1,400 of McDonald's best-of-the-best restaurant employees from around the world will travel to Beijing to serve the world's best athletes and thousands of others at McDonald's four new Olympic venue restaurants.

-- To celebrate their skills and the shared Olympic ideals of teamwork and excellence, McDonald's will host a Big Mac Building competition during its press event in Beijing on August 7. These McDonald's restaurant all-stars will be competing to assemble the highest quality Big Mac sandwiches.

-- The Olympic Champion Crew were invited to create a short video that tells their own story and experience -- and expresses their Olympic spirit. The top "Olympic Spirit of McDonald's" videos will be posted on mcdonalds.com on July 7 and displayed online for four weeks where the public is invited to vote for their favorites.

Four new McDonald's Olympic venue restaurants will be open. These include one in the Olympic Village to serve the athletes, one in the Main Press Center for the more than 30,000 media expected onsite, and two for spectators on the Olympic Green. Customers will find a variety of products, from long-time favorites such as the Egg McMuffin(TM) and Big Mac(TM) sandwiches and World Famous Fries(TM) to Premium Chicken offerings, salads, Apple Pies and Corn Cups, a local Chinese favorite.

McDonald's restaurants around the world will introduce new menu items in celebration of the Olympic Games including a Beijing Burger, Caramel and Banana Sundae, and Rice Sticks in Latin America, and the McFresh line in Russia with Chicken and Fish sandwiches and a Shrimp Salad. In the U.S., McDonald's will promote its recently launched Southern Style Chicken with nine Olympic and Paralympic athletes featured on packaging. Australia's "Flavor of the Games" promotion will feature five different burgers during the Games: The American, The Euro, The African, The Asian and The Australian.

    <<
    McDonald's China Activities
    >>

Phyllis Cheung, Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald's China, outlined the host country's activities. She detailed restaurant promotions, alliances with athletes and their Olympic television commercial focusing on teamwork and excellence, a cheering contest for consumers, as well as local programs that involve restaurant employees and customers throughout China. For the first time ever, McDonald's China has partnered with CCTV, the largest television network in China and official broadcaster of the 2008 Games, to create a 12-month program that follows the China McDonald's Champion Kids' journey up to and through the Games.

    <<
    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. 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 Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mark McDonald's sixth Olympic Games as a Worldwide Partner and seventh 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 is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in more than 100 countries. More than 75 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by franchisees and affiliates. Please visit our website at http://www.mcdonalds.com to learn more about the Company.

    <<
    To view today's Webcast and learn more about McDonald's Olympic
Sponsorship
    Programs go to http://www.iian.ibeam.com/events/mcdo001/26993 or visit the
    McDonald's Olympic Resource Center at
http://www.mcdepk.com/2008OlympicGames
    >>

    <<
     CONTACTS:
     Suzanne Valliere, McDonald's
     630-623-7555
     suzanne.valliere@us.mcd.com
    >>

    <<
     Molly Lynch, GolinHarris
     515-450-8668
     mlynch@golinharris.com
    >>

SOURCE: McDonald's

Suzanne Valliere of McDonald's, +1-630-623-7555,  suzanne.valliere@us.mcd.com;
or Molly Lynch of GolinHarris, +1-515-450-8668,  mlynch@golinharris.com, for
McDonald's Web Site: http://www.mcdonalds.com

Mr Skinner said: "We're the value leader. We always have been, and they expect us to continue to be the value leader."

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Competitors were scored last night by a respected panel of judges, including Grammy Award-winning song writer and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.

"What a tough decision," said Jerkins. "I was so inspired to see how much heart the contestants poured into their performances and how musically talented they are. They all deserve a standing ovation for going for their dreams."

Voice of McDonald's is arguably the largest global singing competition of its kind, open to the 1.6 million McDonald's crew members and managers in 118 countries. More than 3,600 talented singers entered the contest. Now, the three motivated finalists are gearing up for one last musical showdown on Thursday, April 17. Each will have one last opportunity to perform his or her best song in front of multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning artist and songwriter Ne-Yo; Jody Gerson, co-president, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; and Ken Hertz, senior partner, Goldring, Hertz and Lichtenstein, LLP. In addition to winning $25,000, the winner will receive a trip for two to the "American Idol(TM)" Season 7 finale in Los Angeles next month.

"I can't begin to describe how transforming this experience has been for me," said Candido Revilles, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. "I never thought I'd have the chance to compete for such a huge prize and sing for an important music producer like Rodney Jerkins."

Since arriving on their all-expense paid trip to Orlando, contestants have been busy working with vocal coaches and learning an original song written especially for this competition. The three finalists performed the song together during yesterday's semi-finals. Contestants have also had the opportunity to bond with their colleagues from around the world and meet top McDonald's executives.

Voice of McDonald's II is just one example of the opportunities McDonald's creates to celebrate the talents of its employees around the world. This program is a fun way to honor our people and let their voices be heard.

About McDonald's

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in more than 100 countries. More than 75% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by franchisees and affiliates. Please visit our website at http://www.mcdonalds.com to learn more about the Company.

McDonald's and the Voice of McDonald's II logo are trademarks of McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates.

SOURCE McDonald's

http://www.mcdonalds.com

WHAT: Skinner will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show(R). The NRA Show is the industry's largest single gathering of restaurant and hospitality professionals, and the number-one venue for networking, education, watching trends and building business-to-business connections and relationships.

DETAILS: Jim Skinner was elected McDonald's Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by McDonald's Board of Directors in November 2004. In his previous role as Vice Chairman, Skinner had management responsibility for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), and Latin America, in addition to overseeing most corporate staff functions. Since the beginning of 2004, he was accountable for McDonald's Japan Limited, McDonald's second-largest market with nearly 4,000 restaurants. Skinner has held numerous leadership positions in his tenure with the corporation, after starting as a restaurant manager trainee in Carpentersville, Ill.

WHEN: Sunday, May 18, 2008

2:00 p.m. (Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.)

Open only to NRA Show attendees, exhibitors and registered media. Credentialed members of the media may register online at www.restaurant.org/show/media

WHERE: Grand Ballroom, McCormick Place

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 13.1 million employees - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association

http://www.restaurant.org