InterContinental Wellington Concierge to Carry Olympic Flame

20 March 2012

NEWS RELEASE

InterContinental Wellington Concierge to Carry Olympic Flame

Wellington’s Jason Eade has been confirmed as one of the Olympic Torchbearers in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games in England later this year.

On Saturday 23 June, the InterContinental Wellington chief concierge will carry the torch on a stretch of the journey in Preston, England.

Born in Timaru and growing up in Bluff, the avid sportsman was the winner of four New Zealand Boxing Championship titles and had his sights on a 1992 Olympics medal when his life was turned upside down in 1991 by a motorcycle accident and subsequent loss of a leg.

With inspirational determination, Jason turned his attention to wheelchair-based sports including wheelchair tennis (1992-1996 - ranking number 2 in New Zealand and winning his grade in the Japan Wheelchair Tennis Open), and New Zealand Wheelchair Basketball (1992-1996) and is now focused on reaching his goal of playing in the US Amputee Golf Open.

Eade says he feels very honoured and privileged to be part of such an amazing occasion.

“Representing InterContinental Wellington – my colleagues and the guests, and New Zealand – my friends and family, is a huge opportunity. There are many people I’ll be thinking of as I take my "moment to shine" as a London Olympic 2012 Torchbearer. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

InterContinental Wellington director of marketing Geoff Naumann says Jason epitomises everything great about kiwi determination.

“Jason puts the interests of everyone else – guests and colleagues – first, which speaks volumes for the humility of the man,” says Naumann. “He draws his inspiration from those he works with, but underestimates how much of a motivator he is to all his colleagues.”

“It’s an honour to have a team member like Jason working for InterContinental Wellington, and we’re so thrilled by his global selection.”

Jason was nominated by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the official Olympics partners. In total 70 of IHG’s personnel worldwide will carry the torch on behalf of their families and communities.

In addition to sponsor nominations, some 37,000 people applied to take part in the torch relay. Selection was based on the positive difference to the community or the environment an individual had made, or in recognition of an outstanding achievement in their life.

In total 8,000 people will carry the torch on its 70-day journey which begins at Land’s End on 19 May and weaves 8000 miles through major cities and landmarks, tiny villages and remote islands the length of Britain, to arrive in London in time for the Olympic Games commencing on July 27.

Relay officials, and in some locations the torch itself, will be hosted by more than 40 IHG properties (including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands) during the relay through the UK.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Background on Jason Eade
• Born in Timaru, moved to Bluff In the lower South Island when he was seven years old where he lived until an adult. Parents still live in Bluff.
• Jason is an above knee amputee. He had a motorcycle accident in 1991 just before he was to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
• Other achievements include:
o Bluff Sportsman of the Year 1986 for boxing.
o Represented NZ in boxing in 1988.
o Won a silver medal for boxing in Jakarta in 1989.
o Won the Jamieson’s belt, an award for New Zealand’s most scientific boxer in 1988.
o Achieved the number 2 ranking in New Zealand wheelchair tennis (1992-1996).
o Competed in New Zealand wheelchair basketball squad (1992-1996).
o In Christchurch in 1996, Jason completed his Travel Certificate Level 4.
• Joined InterContinental Wellington in the Banquet division in 2001, and shifted into the Concierge team in 2001.
• A member of Les Clefs D’Or New Zealand.
About IHG
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation operating seven hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 63 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,400 hotels and more than 658,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories, and has more than 1,100 hotels in its development pipeline.

IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 new people worldwide across its estate over the next few years and is committed to gender balance throughout its business. We aspire to continue retaining a minimum of 25% female representation on the Board.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihgplc or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

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