Olympics Firing Two Top Sponsors?

It looks like some are trying to ban the sponsorship of McDonald's and Coca-Cola from the 2012 London Olympic games. This might not seem like a huge deal, but they gain a ton of revenue from those sponsorships. All in an attempt because people can't eat healthily enough with all these temptations

"Just over a month before London hosts the 2012 Olympics, the powerful elected body passed a motion urging the International Olympic Committee to adopt strict sponsorship criteria in a bid to outlaw advertising of products linked to child obesity."

"Coca-Cola has sponsored every Olympic Games since 1928, making it the longest continuous partner of the Olympic Movement, while McDonald’s has been ever-present since the Montreal Olympics in 1976."

The Movement to Ban McDonald’s, Coca-Cola From the London Olympics | Moneyland | TIME.com

I'm all for it. I'm fairly certain that the majority of these athletes rarely have McDonald's and Coke as part of their regular diet. Makes sense to me.

Awesome. The Olympics should have no problems gaining sponsors.

Well then lets ban the following too: To name just a few!

BP, they sure made a mess out of the US Gulf Coast
BMW, people get hurt and die while driving their cars and the pollution they produce is destroying our planet
DOW, I mean chemicals are dangerous
The Lottery, heavens forbid, gambling..........

Whether they eat or drink the products where is the loyalty to 2 corporations that have spent millions for the Olympics?

Originally Posted by JCVD

I'm all for it. I'm fairly certain that the majority of these athletes rarely have McDonald's and Coke as part of their regular diet. Makes sense to me.

Im sure most of these athletes don't use the majority of the products that ate sponsors.

Originally Posted by sweet16

Whether they eat or drink the products where is the loyalty to 2 corporations that have spent millions for the Olympics?

That's part of the reason I have an issue with it. Coca-Cola has been sponsoring the Olympics for 84 total years.

Originally Posted by MJAlltheWay24

That's part of the reason I have an issue with it. Coca-Cola has been sponsoring the Olympics for 84 total years.

...and once again, just because something has ALWAYS happened that way doesn't make it a good thing.

I guess I'm going to have to boycott the Olympics now. Healthy lifestyle? Give me a break, and quit trying to mess with my wallet.

Actually, if a kid sits around & watches the Olympics rather than actually get exercise for themselves, then they're still going to be fat.

Originally Posted by Randy Parker

Actually, if a kid sits around & watches the Olympics rather than actually get exercise for themselves, then they're still going to be fat.

I doubt ~ month of inactivity every two years will contribute to their obesity...

Originally Posted by formerkywrestler

I doubt ~ month of inactivity every two years will contribute to their obesity...

I don't know. From another thread, we've already established the power of "30 days." Perhaps a 30-day routine of sitting around like a fat blob of nothing will only make it more difficult to ever be anything other than that.

Something to remember though: Coca-Cola does own Powerade (which I know isn't as awesome as Gatorade) and bottled water companies as well.

And McDonald's is trying to come out with healthy options lol.

Originally Posted by formerkywrestler

...and once again, just because something has ALWAYS happened that way doesn't make it a good thing.

I can't help it, I'm usually more of a traditionalist.

Originally Posted by formerkywrestler

Awesome. The Olympics should have no problems gaining sponsors.

I doubt that the Olympics could make up the entirety of what they would lose from dropping their two largest contributors with sponsors that fit the criteria of not promoting obesity. I can say with 100% certainty that they can't do it without having sponsors that have something undesirable (think Nike and sweatshops for an example).

Originally Posted by formerkywrestler

...and once again, just because something has ALWAYS happened that way doesn't make it a good thing.

But how does it make it a bad thing? There reasoning being given is it's linked to child obesity, who's feeding those children that stuff. Last I checked Coca Cola and McDonalds aren't just handing out free food and drink to every obese kid that comes their way. That would mean it's probably the parents that are the problem. How about a few commercials aimed at parents about making healthier choices for their kids. I know that those would make more of an impact than pulling either of these sponsors.

Originally Posted by sportsfan41

But how does it make it a bad thing? There reasoning being given is it's linked to child obesity, who's feeding those children that stuff. Last I checked Coca Cola and McDonalds aren't just handing out free food and drink to every obese kid that comes their way. That would mean it's probably the parents that are the problem. How about a few commercials aimed at parents about making healthier choices for their kids. I know that those would make more of an impact than pulling either of these sponsors.

I'm not saying the problem lies solely with those companies or the majority of the problem lies with them. Just that the Olympics has free will to choose their sponsors and I'm glad to see them recognizing an important issue. I like to see organizations take it upon themselves to be socially-aware...

Originally Posted by formerkywrestler

I'm not saying the problem lies solely with those companies or the majority of the problem lies with them. Just that the Olympics has free will to choose their sponsors and I'm glad to see them recognizing an important issue. I like to see organizations take it upon themselves to be socially-aware...

Socially aware and financially ignorant. It wasn't the Olympic committee that voted, it was the London Assemmbly which voted to strongly urge the Olympic Committee to ban such sponsorship. They said the companies being discussed account for over 40% of the Olympics revenue. Less than a month from the start of the games, this would be a dumb move.

What is the obesity rate/percentage in London compared to the US?
Is the consumption of McDonald/Coke as big there as it is here?

Originally Posted by JCVD

What is the obesity rate/percentage in London compared to the US?
Is the consumption of McDonald/Coke as big there as it is here?

I don't think it's nearly as bad just from what I've heard from people from that area or that have spent extensive time there but I don't have any concrete statistics.

Originally Posted by sportsfan41

I don't think it's nearly as bad just from what I've heard from people from that area or that have spent extensive time there but I don't have any concrete statistics.

Maybe they are trying to influence some other nations, specifically ours. We are quite fat as a country. Whether you blame the companies or the parents, I think they are making a bold move in the right direction. They wont have trouble finding sponsors.