Olympic official Patrick Hickey steps down amid tickets row

Patrick Hickey's IOC badge was displayed by police at a press conference in Rio

Patrick Hickey, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, has temporarily stood down from all his roles after his arrest in Rio over allegations of illegal ticket sales.

The Irishman, 71, was taken to hospital following his arrest, after requesting medical attention. Brazilian police claim he was involved in a scheme to resell Olympic tickets at higher than their face value.

They said the scheme could have had profits of 10m reals (£2.4m; $3.1m). Mr Hickey will be replaced as president of the European Olympic Committees - the body which brings together the 50 national committees across the continent - by his deputy Janez Kocijancic.


The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) said in a statement that Mr Hickey was stepping aside "until this matter is fully resolved" and would continue to co-operate and assist with all enquiries.

Acting OCI President William O'Brien said the council would "defend ourselves to the hilt" after the arrest of Mr Hickey.

Mr Hickey, a former judoka, has been a member of the 15-strong executive board of the International Olympic Committee since 2012, making him a prime mover in the world of international sports.