(Newser)
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Nothing symbolizes physical fitness better than ... McDonald's, right? The fast-food chain is a major London Olympics sponsor, and it has some pretty big plans—literally. The world's largest McDonald's will open this summer in Olympic Park. The AP describes it as a "cathedral-like restaurant" whose two stories house room for 1,500 diners. If spectators can't find a seat there, they'll have three other locations from which to choose in Olympic Park, and a fifth location will be set up in the athletes' village.
A rep for the organizing committee says the games basically wouldn't happen without partners like McDonald's—and Coca-Cola and Heineken, which happens to be the official beer of the games. "It's very sad that an event that celebrates the very best of athletic achievements should be sponsored by companies contributing to the obesity problem and unhealthy habits," counters a rep for the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges. McDonald's projects that 10% of Olympic-goers will eat its fare during the games. The sponsorship is actually nothing new: The company has backed the Olympics since 1976.
