(ATR) The chief executive of Swim Ireland Sarah Keane will succeed Patrick Hickey as Olympic Council of Ireland president.
Hickey is mired in the consequences of his arrest on ticket touting charges in Rio de Janeiro during the final days of the Olympics. Hickey faces a trial in Brazil at some time in the future. He denies the charges. Previous to his troubles in Brazil Hickey had said he would be stepping down this year.
Keane was elected at the OCI Extraordinary General Assembly on Thursday evening in Dublin. She received 29 of the possible 43 votes, beating competitors Willie O’Brien and Bernard O’Byrne who received 12 and two votes, respectively.
"I feel humbled and privileged to have been elected as President of the OCI this evening," Keane said in a statement following the election.
The election brings an end to O’Brien’s run as interim OCI president that began in August 2016 following the arrest of Hickey. He was released on bail for medical reasons and returned to Ireland in December
Prior to his arrest and subsequent resignation from the OCI, Hickey had run the organization for seven terms since his election in 1989. Keane acknowledged the missteps of her predecessor in her victory statement.
"I am grateful for the support and confidence shown to me by the Olympic Sports Federations and I look forward to working with them, the other newly elected officers and Executive Committee members to reform and rebuild the OCI after what has been a very difficult few months for the Olympic movement in Ireland."
"Some of the required changes will take some time as there are steps that have to be taken in order to facilitate the governance changes," Keane added. "I do, however, hope to call a meeting of the new Executive Committee in the next few days and with their input, agree a timetable for change."
O’Byrne was dissatisfied with his defeat but congratulated Keane.
"The OCI is an organization that has been calling out for change for a number of years, and I am disappointed that I will not be involved in that change as we move towards Tokyo 2020," O’Bryne said. "I would like to wish Sarah Keane all the best in the new role."
Written by Kevin Nutley
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