2014 NATO Summit to be held in Wales, September 4-5th

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Croeso! (That's "Welcome!" in Welsh). On September 4^th and 5^th, 2014 Wales will welcome about 60 leaders from across the globe to the 2014 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit. The Summit will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, located just twenty minutes outside the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. This will be the first NATO Summit in Wales and it will be the first time a sitting US President will visit this Celtic country.

In actual fact, the United States and Wales are bound by an astonishing number of little known historic links. Here are just a few: (see more at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/welsh-america-links):

• Legend has it that Prince Madog ab Owain Gwynedd sailed to what is now Alabama in 1170;
• Welsh-American Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence;
• There have been nine US Presidents with Welsh ancestry;
• The number of Americans with the Welsh names Williams, Evans and Jones is higher than the population of Wales (3 million);
• Iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (b. 1914 in Swansea) died in New York in 1953; www.dylanthomas100.org;
• Yale University was named after Welshman Elihu Yale;
• Hillary Rodham Clinton has Welsh ancestors.

To mark this historic occasion, the Royal Mint has struck approximately 150 limited edition bronze commemorative 'coins' at its Llantrisant site in South Wales. https://www.gov.uk .

HRH The Prince of Wales will host a special event for the group with honored guests including Prime Minister David Cameron, Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones and Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb. President Obama and his fellow dignitaries can expect to enjoy a locally sourced meal prepared by award-winning Welsh Chef Stephen Terry. 'Fresh' and 'local' are two important words when talking about Welsh food. And Wales' varied landscape reflects the freshness, quality and variety of its produce. Visitor to Wales can sample Chef Terry's cuisine at The Hardwick, near Abergavenny – www.thehardwick.co.uk.

A country of three million with a 30,000-year-old history, Wales is known as a magical land of epic myths, Arthurian legend and song; a land of poets, performers and original thinkers (the microphone, fuel cell, mathematical equals sign and canned beer are all Welsh innovations). Wales has proven itself a world leader across generations with accomplishments that delight visitors today:

• In 1927, the National Museum Cardiff opened and now houses an eclectic collection, including the world's second largest impressionist art collection – https://www.museumwales.ac.uk;
• With the opening of The Wales Coast Path in 2012, Wales became the first country on the planet with a completely walkable perimeter - www.walescoastpath.gov.uk;
• At Mid-Wales's western edge, the Brecon Beacons National Park is one of just eight 'Dark Sky Reserves' in the world – http://www.darksky.org;
• Llanwrtyd Wells has been recognized for decades as the 'capital of quirk' in Wales. Every summer the town – nestled in a serene valley on the edge of the Cambrian Mountains - hosts its annual Green Events – www.green-events.co.uk – where international contestants show their skill at bog snorkeling, in a man vs horse marathon and many other off beat competitions.

Notes to Editors:
The 2014 NATO Wales logo includes four icons of the country's history and culture. According to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's Secretary General, the logo features, "strong symbols of Wales in a modern way – drawing on the past; looking to the future." Icons of the logo include:

• The Castle: Wales is home to 641 castles with more castles per square mile than any other country in the world.
• The Welsh Dragon: An image of a red dragon adorns the Welsh flag. The dragon depicts the country's mystical past from the legends of King Arthur to the tales of the Mabinogion.
• A Celtic knot: Celtic heritage runs through the heart of the Welsh people. Welsh is the oldest living Celtic language in the world.  
• The Newport Transporter Bridge: One of only six left in the world, it represents Wales' success in industry, from coal in the 1900's to aerospace and alternative energy today. 

Visit Wales is the Government tourism office for Wales, a country within the United Kingdom that is 180 miles long and 70 miles across at its widest point. Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are four distinct countries that make up the United Kingdom. For more information on travel to Wales, consumers can visit www.americas.visitwales.com .

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bob Titley, The Robert Titley Consultancy
Tel: 917-690-8418
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]

SOURCE Welsh Government