U.S. fast-food giant McDonald's has ended its 41-year-long Olympic Games sponsorship deal three years early, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.
McDonald's, a sponsor since 1976 and part of the IOC's top sponsors programme that contributes more than $1 billion in every four-year cycle for the Games, had a contract running through the 2020 Tokyo summer Olympics.
"In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, we understand that McDonald's is looking to focus on different business priorities," Timmo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, said in a statement.
Financial terms of the separation were not disclosed.
While it is unusual for an Olympic sponsor to leave early, sponsors change regularly within the IOC's top programme. The most recent addition was China's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, which signed a deal in January for a partnership through 2028.
"As part of our global growth plan, we are reconsidering all aspects of our business and have made this decision in cooperation with the IOC to focus on different priorities," McDonald's Global Chief Marketing Officer Silvia Lagnado said.
McDonald's has been tightening costs as it invests in improving its food quality, restaurant service and online ordering to woo back diners in the United States, where intense competition has gnawed away at sales.
The company, first involved with the Games in 1968, was its food retail sponsor. Despite pulling out with immediate effect, McDonald's will continue at next year's Pyeongchang winter Olympics as sponsors with domestic marketing rights.
The IOC said it was not planning a direct replacement for McDonald's.
The IOC has faced criticism from public health campaigners for allowing sponsors such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's to use the Games as an opportunity to market their products, which are perceived to be unhealthy, in contrast to what the event seeks to promote.
Reuters
Fri Jun 16 2017
The sign outside a McDonalds restaurant is seen in Westminster, Colorado, U.S. January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
AWANI Ringkas: Projek NTC | Sindiket Dadah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kilang cat terbakar, dua sekolah di Meru diarah ditutup
Penutupan dua buah sekolah terlibat iaitu SK Meru dan Sekolah Rendah Agama Meru 2 itu dibuat atas faktor keselamatan.
AWANI 7:45 [29/04/2024] – Meja bulat bersama 50 pemimpin industri dunia | Penggunaan komersial capai 80 peratus
PM yakin Malaysia jadi destinasi pelabur bernilai tinggi.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Malaysia perlu berani menentang Denmark
Hanya kemenangan menentang Denmark, kuasa besar badminton dunia, dalam aksi penting Kumpulan D Piala Thomas 2024 esok akan membawa Malaysia mendahului carta kedudukan.
Indonesia sokong pendekatan Malaysia bantu bangun 'peradaban' banduan Indonesia
Penjara bukan semata-mata tempat menghukum tetapi mentransformasikan ia sebagai institusi pendidikan yang memberi peluang kepada penghuni.
Polis tembak kereta mewah bawa dadah lebih RM100,000
Polis terpaksa melepaskan tembakan bagi mengawal keadaan selepas pemandu kenderaan terbabit bertindak agresif dan cuba merempuh anggota polis .
Polis siasat dakwaan pusat keagamaan di Nilai lakukan aktiviti mencurigakan
Ketua Polis Negeri Sembilan Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof berkata pihaknya menerima laporan berhubung perkara tersebut Jumat lepas.
Semua laluan Malaysia-Thai di daerah Tak Bai, Sungai Golok, Weng ditutup sementara
Jalan ke Sungai Golok dari daerah Tak Bai ditutup untuk pemeriksaan selepas skuad pemusnah bom menemukan paku bertaburan di jalan raya.
Pengwujudan dua negara berdaulat satu penyelesaian
Perdana Menteri Jordan, Bisher Hani Al Khaswneh berkata Israel terus melakukan kesilapan dengan menyerang gaza dan berharap untuk mendapat hasil yang berbeza. Beliau turut berkata pengwujudan dua negara berdaulat adalah satu penyelesaian asas yang enggan difahami dan diterima Israel.
[TERKINI] PETRONAS dagangan jual 16 bilion liter bahan api, perolehan RM37.55 bilion
Ini laporam yangh baharu kami terima.
PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd mencatatkan jumlah jualan melebihi 16 bilion liter bahan api tahun lalu, meningkat lapan peratus tahun ke tahun, manakala perolehan sebanyak RM37.55 bilion.
PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd mencatatkan jumlah jualan melebihi 16 bilion liter bahan api tahun lalu, meningkat lapan peratus tahun ke tahun, manakala perolehan sebanyak RM37.55 bilion.