Olympic stir follows McD's official's comment

CHICAGO The Oak Brook-based company says that the senior director of alliance marketing was wrong and it is officially "neutral" in the 2016 competition. The marketing director was quoted last week saying that some of the 2016 bid cities aren't that important to McDonald's, but if Chicago is selected, the company would "probably" renew its financial backing of the Games.

The fast food giant has been an Olympic sponsor for nearly 40 years, but International Olympic Committee rules prohibit sponsors from endorsing a bid city.

A McDonald's spokesperson said Friday the company values the Olympic potential of every possible host city.

Mary Dillon's Statement on 2016 Games

"McDonald's is proudly committed as a TOP Sponsor through the 2012 Olympic Games in London. As a sponsor for more than 30 years, we adhere to the policies the IOC has in place around future bid cities, which includes strict neutrality throughout the bid process. As a global company, we highly value all of the potential host cities for the 2016 Games. In fact, in every one of the competing bid cities we have a strong local McDonald's presence."

Mary Dillon
McDonald's Global Chief Marketing Officer