Marriott to host the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay

Marriott International has been appointed the Official Supplier of Hotel Services to theglobal Olympic Torch Relay, which begins its international leg on June 4, 2004, and culminates in Athens and the Games of the 28th Olympiad.

"We are thrilled to host the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch as it crosses the world and to be part of the first-ever Global Torch Relay. This journey will serve to unite and infuse the planet with the Olympic spirit," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International. "I look forward to the spirit of the Torch, the unity of the Olympic Games and celebrating with our associates and friends."

The theme of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay Presented by Coca-Cola and Samsung is, "Pass the Flame, Unite the World." The relay will visit 34 cities (including Ancient Olympia) worldwide in 35 days before returning to Athens, Greece, on July 9 for its final trek through the host country en route to the Opening Ceremony in Athens. All past and present host cities of the Olympic Summer Games, as well as Beijing, host city of the 2008 Olympic Games, will greet the flame. In addition, the Olympic flame will visit South America and Africa for the first time, as well as other cities along the way, in a global celebration. All five continents represented by the Olympic Rings will host the Olympic flame.

"Our hotels are very excited that the Marriott brands have been chosen for this historic event", said Paul Cerula, senior vice president, International Lodging Sales. "Marriott's global expansion in key cities on the Relay route, matched extremely well with the lodging needs of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay and we are honored to be part of this event."

Over 11,000 torchbearers will carry the flame. The flame will pass hand-to-hand, runner-to-runner as it travels through each city. By the time it returns to Athens, the torch will have traveled more than 78,000 kilometers by air and 1,500 kilometers by torchbearers on foot, in wheelchairs, aboard bicycles and boats.

Each torchbearer will be selected as an individual that reflects the best in humanity. The qualifications of a torchbearer are those who inspire unity, participation, celebration and heritage, and those who believe in the value of an individual and that the virtue of one person makes a difference.

Upon completion of each day's relay, the flame will ignite a ceremonial cauldron in a designated public location where citizens, local officials, and regional Olympians will celebrate the spirit of the Olympic Games. At the end of the day's public festivities, the torch will be escorted to the hotel for a special goodnight celebration.

More than 25 Marriott International hotels worldwide are participating in the Olympic Torch Relay. The following hotels will care for, feed, and provide accommodation for the Olympic Torch and the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games:

Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay, Sydney Australia
Melbourne Marriott Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Seoul, South Korea
Renaissance Beijing Hotel, Beijing, China
New World Courtyard Beijing, Beijing, China
New Delhi Marriott Hotel, New Delhi, India
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino, Cairo, Egypt
JW Rio de Janeiro Marriott Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico
Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
St. Louis Marriott Downtown, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
New York Marriott Marquis, New York, New York, U.S.
Brussels Marriott Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ramada Encore Hotel Geneva La Praille, Geneva, Switzerland
Courtyard by Marriott Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France
Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel, London, U.K.
Renaissance Munich Hotel, Munich, Germany
Munich Marriott Hotel, Munich, Germany
Berlin Marriott Hotel, Berlin, Germany
Ramada Hotel Presidentti, Helsinki, Finland
Renaissance Moscow Hotel, Moscow, Russia
Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel, Athens, Greece