(ATR) The Olympic Council of Ireland has delayed the announcement on candidates to replace Pat Hickey as president.
An OCI spokesman tells Around the Rings that eligibility checks on the contenders are still taking place.
The announcement, initially expected today, will now take place on Tuesday.
Three candidates are expected to be unveiled – Basketball Ireland chief Bernard O'Byrne, Swim Ireland's Sarah Keane and the OCI’s acting president Willie O'Brien.
The OCI’s honorary general secretary Dermot Henihan is tipped to drop out of the race, according to Irish media reports.
The new president will be chosen by the 34 OCI members.
ATR has learned that Hickey is not expected to show up at the OCI’s election congress on Feb. 9. It means there will be little fanfare over the departure of Hickey from the organization he has run since 1989. He is said to be receiving medical attention for a heart condition and recuperating after his return from Brazil where he was embroiled in the ticketing scandal that rocked the Rio Games.
Hickey stated last year that he had no plans to run again for the OCI presidency.
The 71-year-old relinquished several Olympic roles including his IOC membership and OCI position after his arrest last August in Rio over ticket touting allegations. He was jailed for about one week before being released. But he was unable to return to Ireland without his seized passport until December when he posted nearly $500,000 in bail.
The Association of National Olympic Committees loaned Hickey the money to pay for the bail "on humanitarian grounds", which allowed him to travel home.
As part of Hickey’s release he is required to return to Brazil for a trial on charges of ticket touting, forming a cartel, and illegally marketing the Rio 2016 Olympics. If convicted he could face up to seven years in prison. No date for a trial has been set.
Qatar Olympic Committee Re-elects President
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has been re-elected as president of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) till 2020, according to Qatari media reports.
The QOC also re-elected Dr. Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari as secretary general during the general assembly held at QOC headquarters on Thursday.
The heads of all Qatari sports federations were in attendance. Among the topics reportedly discussed -- the country's progress in terms of qualification for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Reported by Mark Bissonand Gerard Farek
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