Doctors have beef with Golden Arches

Big Macs, French fries and McFlurries will be on the menu at the London Olympics.

The London Olympics named McDonald’s an official sponsor of the games, a move that prompted push-back from a British doctors’ group.

McDonald’s will be the only restaurant allowed to sell brand-named food at the Olympics.

The iconic golden arches will sit atop the largest franchise in the world – a two-story cathedral-like restaurant that seats 1,500 people – at Olympic Park, according to the Associated Press. Three other locations will also be set up at Olympic Park.

In addition, there will be a separate McDonald’s in the athlete’s village. Although, I can’t imagine athletes will be lining up for Big Macs before toeing the line.

After eating some Mickey D’s visitors can drink an ice-cold Coca-Cola. The soft drink company has the exclusive right to sell non-alcoholic drinks at Olympic venues. Heineken is the official beer.

The British doctors’ group has a beef with the Olympics committee’s decision, given the country’s ballooning obesity.

“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,” Terence Stephenson, a spokesman for the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, told the AP.

The group is calling on the British government to restrict advertising by the sponsors during the games. But it seems unlikely to happen.

What do you think? Does having fast food companies sponsor the Olympics send a bad message?