Three Contenders Vie to Replace Hickey as OCI President

(ATR) Three candidates are in the running to become the first new OCI president in 28 years.

The OCI announced the nominees Tuesday. Acting OCI president Willie O'Brien will be joined by Basketball Ireland chief Bernard O'Byrne and Swim Ireland's Sarah Keane on the ballot sheet at the Feb. 9 election.

The new president will be chosen by the 34 OCI members.

The election of a number of seats on the OCI’s 12-person executive committee also takes place at the Dublin extraordinary congress.

Patrick Hickey had no plans to stand for re-election for a post he has held since 1989.

The Irish Times reported Tuesday that under OCI statutes Hickey may still be entitled to vote and sit on the new executive committee due to his IOC role.

But Around the Ringswas told last week that Hickey is not expected to show up at the OCI congress. He is still receiving medical attention for a heart condition and recuperating following his return from Brazil where he was implicated in the ticketing scandal at the Rio Games.

The 71-year-old relinquished several Olympic roles including his IOC membership, ANOC vice presidency and OCI position after his arrest last August in Rio over ticket touting allegations.

O'Brien has been interim president since the scandal blew up.

Hickey has vowed to clear his name of the ticketing charges brought in Brazil. IOC president Thomas Bach has repeatedly said that the "presumption of innocence prevails" as the ticketing case is ongoing.

Hickey only returned to Ireland last month after posting nearly $500,000 in bail loaned from the Association of National Olympic Committees. He is required to return to Brazil to face trial on charges of ticket touting, forming a cartel, and illegally marketing the Rio 2016 Olympics. No date has yet been set.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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