Chapter Four / SPONSORSHIP67McDonald's Champion KidsTAs part of McDonald's ongoing commitment to children, kids from across Canada and around the worldhad the opportunity to experience the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games first-hand. This once-in-a-lifetime journey provided them with a chance to attend Olympic events, meet athletes, visitthe Olympic Village, tour the cultural sites of Vancouver and interact with their peers from across the globe. The children also served as special youth correspondents, sharing their experiences with their communities through hometown news outlets. Giving BackMcDonald's continued its Olympic tradition of giving back to the host community through a specialdonation from Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Canada. Working in partnership with TheProvince of British Columbia, the Rick Hansen Foundation and 2010 Legacies Now, the donationhelped fund three world-class playgrounds located in the venue cities of Vancouver, Richmond andWhistler that will live beyond the Games. The Legacy playgrounds are designed to meet the needs ofchildren with disabilities and enable them to play side by side with their siblings, families and friends.EnvironmentIn support of VANOC's efforts to make the 2010 Winter Games the first carbon neutral Games inOlympic history, McDonald's joined VANOC's voluntary Carbon Partner Programme to help offsetindirect carbon emissions. In addition, the three McDonald's Olympic venue restaurants were fittedwith energy-efficient lighting and equipment, with the equipment being reused and recycled atMcDonald's restaurants in Canada. McDonald's efforts were honoured with two VANOC 2010Sustainability Star awards for waste diversion at the three Olympic restaurants and for the Legacyplaygrounds project.