A large welcoming committee at the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria Hotel in Sheffield, UK, greeted the Olympic Torch at a reception hosted by the hotel.
The Holiday Inn brand is the official hotel services provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as a supporting partner for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Olympic sponsors, local celebrities, and members of the UK Sports Federations were in attendance at the reception.
Nick Clegg said, ‘It was an honour to be part of welcoming the Olympic flame to our city.
Monday’s events fired the starting gun for Sheffield’s Olympic celebrations, but the city’s hard work started a long time ago. By the time the opening ceremony begins, one in seven team GB athletes will have trained in Sheffield including Paralympic table tennis player Will Bayley, who is tipped for a medal win. And of course we all have high hopes for Sheffield’s Jessica Ennis.
But this isn’t just about watching a great sporting spectacle on TV. Here in Sheffield over 160 sports, education and community projects have been inspired by the Olympics – the Sheffield Academy of Young Leaders in Sport is recruiting young people to lead sports events in schools and Sheftival 2012 will see the best of our city’s music, radio and sport completely take over Don Valley for the first weekend in August.’
The hotel general manager, Steven Vandevelde, said, ‘We were thrilled that our hotel was elected to host the Official Torch Relay party, particularly as it coincides with the hotels 150th birthday. It is wonderful that Sheffield, the UK City of Sport, was so honoured and we are absolutely delighted that our guests and our team had the opportunity to see the Olympic Flame, as it journeys across the UK, carried by the 8,000 inspirational people.’
