McDonald’s is offering kids a chance to attend sporting events at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, an opportunity many people cannot afford due to the high costs of the tickets.
Shawn Johnson, an Olympic Gold Medal gymnast and an ambassador for McDonald’s Champion Kid program, is helping to promote the online contest for kids 11-to14 years old.
Kids can enter through Oct. 30 by submitting an online essay and video or photo that demonstrates what the Olympic Values of friendship, excellence and respect mean to them, and to explain why they should be chosen to represent their hometown as a McDonald’s Champion Kid.
In addition to the trip for two for four days and three nights at the February games, the winners will meet athletes and other 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.”
A panel of Olympic athletes will judge the entries, including Johnson, 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.
Twenty-five finalists will be selected based on: creativity and originality (20%), appropriateness to theme (20%), clarity of expression (20%), grammar (20%) and amicable/reporting ability/personality (20%). Ten grand-prizes winners and five alternates will be selected with the winners announced in early December.
The McDonald’s Champion Kids program debuted at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as part of the company’s commitment to encourage physical activity among children.
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