This is the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that an organising committee has looked to sponsors to support the volunteers.
As presenting partner, McDonald’s will use its expertise in customer service and people development, as well as its nationwide presence, to help attract, select and train the diverse team of volunteers known as games makers that will be needed for the London 2012 Games. This will include providing training staff, materials and facilities to help attract and train volunteers. McDonald’s will also use its 1,200 restaurants in communities across the UK to spread the message and attract volunteers from all walks of life and every corner of the UK.London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, (LOCOG) chairman Lord Coe said: "Volunteers are vital to the success of the Games, and there are few organisations with the scale and experience required to help us prepare such a large team in a relatively short space of time.
"Providing good customer service to millions of people each day is core to McDonald’s business, and the company has a proven track record in developing its own 80,000-strong workforce to thrive in a fast-paced, busy environment. This combination makes McDonald’s uniquely placed to equip the London 2012 Games Makers with the skills needed to deliver an unforgettable experience to millions of visitors to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
David Fairhurst, senior vice-president and chief people officer, McDonald's UK and Northern Europe, added: "We’re proud to be helping to train the 70,000 people who will lend their time, energy and skills to make the London 2012 Olympic Games a resounding success. We’ll use our expertise and nationwide presence to help attract, select and train the volunteers.
"Our employees know a fair bit about working in a fast-paced, busy environment – providing quick and consistent customer service to over two million people each day.
"We’ll use this experience, our long-term involvement in supporting volunteer football coaches and our proven track record in people development to provide the volunteers with the skills and confidence to deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games that leaves an enduring volunteering legacy for years to come."
