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Olympic execs question high-calorie sponsorship - FT

LONDON, July 8 | Sun Jul 8, 2012 6:05pm EDT

LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - Top officials in the International Olympic Committee have questioned whether it is appropriate to allow high-calorie consumer brands to continue sponsoring the Games, the president of the IOC said.

Jacques Rogge said in an interview with the Financial Times there had been a "question mark" over the sponsorship of the Olympics by McDonald's and Coca-Cola, driven by global obesity concerns.

"For those companies, we've said to them: 'Listen, there is an issue in terms of the growing trend on obesity, what are you going to do about that?'" he said in the article, published on the FT's website.

McDonald's, whose four restaurants in London's Olympic Park include its biggest in the world, extended its 36-year backing of the Games in January by signing up as sponsor for another eight years.
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Comments (16)
sligresda wrote:
Excuse me but these athletes are burning large amounts of calories in training and competition. Who the hell is anybody to deny them a little bit of “comfort food” should they want it. Are we seriously now at the point where we are going to tell even fit people what they can and cannot eat? This is beyond ridiculous!

Jul 08, 2012 6:25pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
tocelp wrote:
What Socialist BS! Go ahead and ban womens shotput, mens wrestling over 148lb, and bobsled in the Winter Games. Overcontrol will kill us!

Jul 08, 2012 6:41pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
JTH wrote:
I am shocked that someone within the Olympics seemingly has grown a conscience. The Olympics is just another business centered around money, power, and perceived prestige. Just another brand to be sold to a gullible public.

Jul 08, 2012 6:42pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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