In keeping with Danny Boyle’s Olympic Opening Ceremony “a picture of ourselves as a nation”, the 150 year old, picture postcard Holiday Inn Royal Victoria Hotel, is the perfect backdrop for a special reception for the Official UK Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic Torch Relay has undoubtedly captured the interest of the UK population and, for many, it has been their best opportunity to be in touching distance of the Olympic Flame.  Holiday Inn is the Official Hotel Services Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and a supporting partner for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Holiday Inn Royal Victoria Hotel was proud to host the reception, for dignitaries and Torchbearers involved in the latest leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.  The event was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg along with Olympic sponsors, local dignitaries and members of various UK Sports Federations, including; UK Athletics, British Fencing, The British Judo Association, British Wrestling, British Volleyball, The British Table Tennis Federation and British Basketball.

Over the past 150 years, the hotel has an illustrious history of welcoming the great and the good, but for the first time, last night the hotel was able to greet the Olympic Flame, along with the stunning Olympic Torch designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby.  Attendees were also treated to a viewing of a collection of Olympic Relay Torches dating back to the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. 

Deputy Prime Minister, 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.

“Sheffield companies are also lending their expertise to make sure that, when the eyes of the world are on Britain, we take our moment to shine. More than 220 Yorkshire businesses have been awarded contracts related to the Games. Every building on the Olympic park is using timber provided by Sheffield firm Arnold Laver – that’s 4,500 cubic meters of wood!”

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”.