McDonald's CEO Retiring; 3x3 Hoops World Tour; Australia Taps Swimming Team

McDonald’s CEO Retiring

McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner will retire June 30 after 41 years with the company.

Skinner led the company since 2004 and was a driving force behind the "Plan to Win" strategy, rolled out in 2003. Under the plan, the fast food giant redesigned its restaurants, scaled back on openings and offered varied menu options.

"Jim's stellar leadership has driven unprecedented momentum at McDonald's," chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement. "Jim has brought to the table exceptional knowledge of McDonald's restaurant operations and a keen sense of business know-how."

Skinner will be succeeded by current president and chief operating officer Don Thompson, responsible for strategy and operations for McDonald’s restaurants worldwide since 2010.

In January, Thompson signed an agreement extending the company’s Olympic sponsorship through 2020.

McDonald’s has a long standing relationship with the Games, serving as a sponsor since 1976.

FIBA Launches 3x3 World Tour

The International Basketball Federation's first full season of 3x3 hoops is shaping up to be a busy one.

FIBA announced Wednesday a 3x3 World Tour with stops stretching from July to September in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vladivostok, Russia; New York City; Istanbul and Madrid. The top 16 teams from those Masters tournaments will then square off Sept. 22 and 23 in Miami, USA for the 3x3 World Tour Final.

Also this summer is the inaugural 3x3 World Cup in Athens from Aug. 23 to 26 and the second 3x3 U18 World Cup in Seville, Spain from Sept. 27 to 30.

"2012 is going to be remembered as the year when 3x3 basketball was launched," said FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann.

"The first edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and the first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Cup are two key landmarks in the development of the game, which we see as a future Olympic discipline."

Members of the IOC Executive Board will decide in 2013 whether to include any new disciplines in the Games ahead of Rio 2016.

Australia Selects Swimming Squad

Half of Australia’s 44-athlete strong swimming team will make their Olympic debut in London.

Australia, long a powerhouse in the pool, finished the Olympic Trials in Adelaide with 21 men and 23 women booking spots at the London Games.

"Our relay strength looks very good like it was in Beijing – if not better, and our sprinters have led the way in terms of world rankings,"head coach Leigh Nugent said.

In Beijing, Australia earned 20 medals in swimming, second only to the United States.

"The racing for individual swims in London has raised the bar here at our Trials and now the job is to do everything possible to best prepare for the Games in July."

SochiSustainabilityAward

Sochi 2014 organizers created an award to showcase contributions made to sustainable development for the 2014 Olympics.

The decision came at the first meeting of the year for the Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board.

Competitions will take place in 2012 and 2013.

"The main goal of the Award is to increase the number of projects designed for long-term positive changes in social, environmental and economic areas, and also to strengthen the positive image of Russia in the world," Sochi 2014 said in a statement.

Awards in three categories will be selected.

India Launches 2012 Website

Indian sports minister Ajay Maken launched a website to track Indian Olympians at the 2012 Games on Wednesday.

The website, called "OPEX London 2012 -Operation Excellence for London Olympics 2012", can be found here.

A statement from the sports ministry says the website provides "comprehensive details about the Indian sportspersons and their training programmes for participation in London Olympics."

OPEX is Maken’s scheme to train Indians for the 2012 Olympics.

Written by Ann Cantrell , Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.

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