63% think it is 'inappropriate' for fast food companies to sponsor Olympics; 19% disagree
The majority of Britons have labelled the use of fast food companies as Olympic sponsors “inappropriate” while just one in five say having big sponsors such as McDonalds and Coca Cola is appropriate for London 2012, our poll shows.
- 63% think it is inappropriate for "fast food" companies to sponsor the Olympics
- 19% think it is appropriate
- 18% don't know
Health campaigners have been urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban junk food and fizzy drink brands from future sporting sponsorship deals, as well as restrict their advertising for the upcoming Games, in a bid to tackle obesity after the release of ‘The Obesity Games Report.’
Encouraging ‘unhealthy habits’
The report, published by The Childrens' Food Campaign (CFC), accuses the IOC of "squandered" the chance to create a positive health legacy from the London 2012 Games, with major sponsors Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Cadbury and Heineken being given an unrivalled platform to promote their unhealthy brands and products, despite the fact that fast food sponsors contribute only about 2% of the committees income.
British doctors have also expressed umbrage at the fast food sponsors, saying that it “sends the wrong message” and encourages “unhealthy habits.”
Sir Ian Gilmore, a special adviser to the Royal College of Physicians on alcohol, has said he "greatly regretted" that the London Olympics had also appointed an official beer as a sponsor, which could easily cause a spike in binge drinking.
No McDonalds, No Olympics
London Olympic organizers have defended their decision to accept McDonald's sponsorship as a business deal, with a spokesperson for the organising committee stating: "Without our partners such as McDonald's, the games simply wouldn't happen."
