Tranquillo Barnetta is the new sports ambassador for Mc Donalds Switzerland

As part of a multi-year collaboration, the national soccer player is supporting Mc Donalds' activities surrounding the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Championship. On Monday, February 27, a creative competition for children between the ages of 6 and 10 will be launched in all 145 Mc Donalds restaurants in Switzerland. The deadline for entries is March 30, 2006. Nine children will then be able to accompany the soccer star hand in hand onto the pitch at the World Cup in Germany. Six places are up for grabs for the match between Switzerland and France, two for the semi-final and even one for the final match, Mc Donalds Switzerland announced in a communiqué. Mc Donalds has been in the sports business for some time. Since 1976 the company has been an official partner of the IOC, since 1994 an official partner of Fifa and since 1996 a partner of Uefa.