OCI Cuts Ties with THG

(ATR) The Olympic Council of Ireland and THG terminated its ticketing contract for the 2018-2026 Olympic Games.

The two parties reached an agreement after mediation with Irish Supreme Court Judge Justice Finnegan, according to a release from the OCI. As part of the mediation the OCI accepted that the contracts "were enforceable as between the parties and that THG fully intended performing its contractual obligations."

THG signed a contract with the OCI in 2010 to be the committee’s commercial ticket partner. The relationship was described as the committee’s most "significant" commercial partner. The arrangement meant the OCI could only use THG as an authorized reseller for the next five Olympic Games.

The relationship was brokered by former OCI President Patrick Hickey and THG head Marcus Evans. After Hickey’s arrest in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympics, the state-commissioned Moran report described a "concealed relationship" between the two parties. The report concluded that Hickey and Evans continued to work together after THG was denied as an authorized ticket reseller for Rio 2016.

Furthermore, the report concluded that Pro10, the company that assumed reselling duties after THG was "not a genuine" reseller. After news of Hickey’s relationship with Evans emerged from Brazil, PyeongChang 2018 moved to bar THG as a reseller. A THG spokesperson, at the time, was confident the company would be selling Tokyo 2020 tickets, even if resellers had not been determined.

Hickey was arrested on charges of ticket touting, forming a cartel, and illegally marketing the Rio Olympics. Irish investigators found no breaches of domestic law in the Moran Report, but Hickey will go on trial in Brazil this November.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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