Agency Of Record (AOR) - Advertising agency that coordinates the purchase of media time and space for a large corporation that is likely to have a number of different agencies handling the various divisions and products. Appointed by the advertiser, this agency makes all the corporate media contracts and receives payment from the other agencies involved, usually 15% of their 15%, for the media placement of their advertising. Source: answers.com

American Depositary Receipt (ADR) - represents the ownership in the shares of a foreign company trading on U.S. financial markets. [Enables]...U.S. investors to buy shares in foreign companies without undertaking cross-border transactions. Source: wikipedia.org

CDT - central daylight time

Dillion, Mary N - As of October 2, 2008 Ms. Dillion's Forbes.com profile indicates she joined McDonald's in October 2005 as Corporate Executive Vice President Global Chief Marketing Officer

eight-thousander - The 14 independent mountains on Earth that rise higher than 8,000 m (26,247 ft) above sea level. The eight-thousanders are within Asia's Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges. Mount Everest is the highest eight-thousander.

guarantee - an arrangement in which one entity assumes responsibility for an obligation, including a debt, after the entity with primary responsibility, also known as the principal, for the obligation demonstrates a failure to do so

GMT - greenwich mean time

Hillary, Sir Edmund Percival - Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, now deceased, are known as the first climbers to reach Mount Everest's summit on May 29, 1953.

Kukuczka, Jerzy - Late Polish high-altitude and alpine climber officially known, since September 18, 1987, as the 2nd man to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders.

Lewicki, John - As of October 2, 2008 Mr. Lewicki's Linkedin.com profile indicates he is a Senior Director at McDonald's

Messner, Reinhold - Made first solo ascents of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Officially recognized as 1st climber to ascend all 14 eight-thousanders.

Moreau, Emmanuelle - As of October 2, 2008 Ms. Moreau's Linkedin.com profile describes her position as "Media Relations Manager at International Olympic Committee"

multinational corporation (transnational corporation) - A corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or delivers services in at least two countries. Source: wikipedia.org

public limited company (plc/p.l.c.) - The initials p.l.c. ...[or plc]...after a United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland company name indicate that it is a public limited company, a type of limited company whose shares may be offered for sale to the public. Source: wikipedia.org

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) - The body responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure, and legacy for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Source: wikipedia.org

TOP - The Olympic Partner Programme, or TOP, is a level of sponsorship that buys, from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), "exclusive...[Summer and Winter Olympics]...worldwide marketing rights" for the buyer (sponsor).

UTC - coordinated universal time