McDonald's, whose association with the Olympics stretches back to 1968 and who have been a TOP (The Olympic Partner Programme) sponsor of the Games since 1996, have paid $100 million (£60 million) to be the official restaurant provider of London 2012 and Christopher Fung, the managing director of Crussh, fears they will be the sole food provider at the expense of his company.

He told insidethegames: “We were hoping that visitors to London for the Games could experience some of the best healthy food that London has to offer, rather than being forced to settle with food from a global fast food chain.

“We really want to work in partnership with London 2012 to promote this.

"If London 2012 is to promote healthier lifestyles and healthier habits for our next generation of athletes, then companies like Crussh who are at the forefront of healthy eating should be involved in setting a good example.

“We just believe that they [fast food chains] need not be purely exclusive at the expense of local business and that companies like Crussh are able to offer a healthier alternative to both visitors and participants.

"The final decision has yet to be made.

"Earls Court has been very supportive, but we have been informed that we may have to vacate our premises for the Games, in which case, we’d be very disappointed."

Despite the dispute between Crussh and London 2012, Fung claimed he remains a huge supporter of the Games.

He said: “I am really excited about the Games.

"I see it as a great opportunity for local businesses, not only in the lead up to, but also for the duration of the Games.

"I also believe that it is a great opportunity to showcase the best of what London has to offer and to provide a lasting legacy for Londoners to be proud of, on a worldwide stage.
 

“However, I’m realising that there’s a significant risk that this opportunity, that comes once every 50 years if you’re lucky, could be lost, if LOCOG choose not to take a forward thinking approach.

"We’re 100 per cent committed to promoting healthy eating and we even have an in-house nutritionist who helps design menus.

"With any luck, we’ll also be able to promote healthy eating at the Games too."

Fung claimed that he does not begrudge McDonald's receiving special privileges as a result of their sponsorship deal.

He said: "They bring much needed sponsorship dollars critical to the success of any Games and I have no issue with them being there at all.

"We just believe that it need not be purely exclusive at the expense of local business and that companies like Crussh are able to offer a healthier alternative to both visitors and participants."

London 2012 claimed that companies like Crussh would not be forced out by McDonald's.

A spokeswoman told insidethegames: “We want to work with incumbent caterers at existing venues.

"We are currently developing our guidelines to make sure we can make this happen and that this fits in with the terms of agreement we have with our sponsors.
 

“We are committed to providing a wide range of food options at all our venues, which will sit alongside the sponsor-branded restaurants and products that we will also offer."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected].


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