Cameron, Romney Meet; BOA in Realistic Mood; Olympics Happy Meals

Cameron, Romney Meet

British prime minister David Cameron is fresh off a visit from Mitt Romney in the wake of comments the U.S. presidential candidate made about the uncertainty of the 2012 Olympics.

"It's hard to know just how well it will turn out," Romney, the chief executive of the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games, told NBC earlier Thursday in London. "There are a few things that were disconcerting: the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials…that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

Cameron was asked for his reaction during a morning news conference outside the Olympic Stadium.

"This is a time of some economic difficulty for the U.K., everyone knows that," Cameron said.

"Look at what we're capable of achieving as a nation even at a difficult economic time. Look behind me at this extraordinary Olympic Park, built from nothing in seven years."

Cameron said the two main challenges of hosting the Games, security and transportation, were under control.

"We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest most active bustling cities in the world. It's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere," he said.

"We have to say this is an extraordinary few weeks in London. We can't say to people life is going to be completely as normal. It isn't."

Meanwhile, Cameron called the errant display of a South Korean flag at a Wednesday women’s football match featuring North Korea an "honest mistake, honestly made."

"It was unfortunate, it shouldn't have happened and I think we can leave it at that."

Asked whether the opening ceremony would be about Beefeaters or Blur, Cameron said there would be one or two moments that are "spine-tingling."

"We have to celebrate both that great about the past but also all the potential Britain has in the future," he said. "There's something for everyone. I hope that right across the spectrum that people who have different views of Britishness will be able to come together."

BOA in Realistic Mood

The chairman of the British Olympic Association says that Team GB has "never been better prepared" for an Olympic Games.

Colin Moynihan was speaking to reporters delightedly in the Main Press Center on the eve of the opening ceremony of London 2012 – the official start of the Olympics.

The BOA chief stressed how "incredibly fine" the margins were between success and failure, but that their long-term strategy means that the British Olympians have had the best-ever preparation for a Games.

"This is an incredibly intensely competitive arena over the next 17 days. What I can tell you is they have never been better prepared. This team is outstandingly well prepared – they are motivated, the public have been incredible, the press have been great in getting behind the athletes.

"We now need to channel all that into performance. If we do, we will see some great personal bests and if those personal bests are delivered, then we will get the medals but let us not underestimate for a moment that it is going to be very, very difficult to match that Beijing performance, but we will do our very best to do that."

But despite the BOA’s aim of delivering "more medals across more sports" and their slogan of "Our Greatest Team", Moynihan admitted that Team GB would be hard-pressed to win more medals than its Olympians did four years ago.

"I think if we can deliver fourth place in the medals table, and come out with the same number or more gold medals than we did out there, then that will be absolutely stunning Games," he said.

"We got 19 golds, 13 silver and 15 bronze in Beijing; that was an outstanding result from Team GB and we are clearly intent on our aspiration, which is to match, that but it’s going to be incredibly hard work."

With Team GB due to compete again on Saturday after the official opening of the Games, Moynihan said that the atmosphere in the camp had been "lifted" by the women’s victory over New Zealand on in the football competition Wednesday.

Chef de mission Andy Hunt confirmed that Team GB will parade a delegation made up of 260 athletes and 40 officials in the opening ceremony Friday, led by flagbearer Chris Hoy. It’s still unknown who will light the cauldron, but Hunt said that it was a "unanimous decision" among the selecting team.

McDonald’s Menu Evolving for London 2012

The president and CEO of McDonald’s is focused on promoting the company’s healthy approach at London 2012.

Don Thompson, in his first Olympics as CEO after being appointed in March of this year, was addressing media at the restaurant’s flagship building in the Olympic Park. The outlet is now the biggest McDonald’s in the world.

While acknowledging the criticism the company has garnered from its association with sport, Thompson said that the menu on offer at the Games this summer will show people how it’s evolving for the better.

"We are delighted to offer a diverse menu of different taste and nutritional value" he said. "Here in London everyone will be able to experience locally relevant tastes like porridge, also our deli wraps which are a new line here in the U.K. including the grilled chicken salad wrap with cucumbers lettuce and tomatoes. If you’ve not had these products, please – you want these new wraps."

"If you look at our menu at the Games, it’s a snapshot of our menu evolution worldwide. We have a lot of creativity, a lot of innovation going on in our markets to connect our customers in new ways."

McDonald’s promise spectators attending the Games the most diverse menu ever offered, and that all packaging would include a nutrition QR code.

Thompson added that for the first time in one of their Olympic Park restaurants, McDonald’s would be serving Happy Meals that will include low-fat options.

"This reflects our commitment to increase fruits, vegetables and dairy products for our customers around the world," he added. "As a parent I understand that it is essential that kids eat right and stay active."

McDonald’s UK CEO Jill McDonald (no relation to Ronald) announced that all four of the new outlets in the Park would be recycled after the Games, perpetuating the sustainable ethos of London 2012.

"The four McDonald’s that we’ve built in the Olympic Park are the most sustainable ever created," she said. "75 percent of the furniture and equipment will be re-used and just about every restaurant will be recycled.

"Every single item has been tagged, logged in a database and will go into one of our restaurants whether new or existing in the U.K. after the Games have finished."

London 2012 marks the ninth consecutive Games that McDonald’s will feed Olympians and spectators as the Official Restaurant of the Olympics.

Reported in London by Ed Hula III and Christian Radnedge

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