Hickey runs rings around critics
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FOR every Olympic controversy -- and there's been a few -- there's a Pat Hickey intervention. Is he accountable to anyone?
Yes, to every one of the 50 associations within the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) who have, with varying degrees of support, elected him to the post of president on a four-yearly term since 1989.
Despite being regularly opposed by some of our greatest ever Olympic representatives -- Eamonn Coghlan, Michael Carruth and Mick Dowling -- Hickey's inimitable sense of political persuasion has maintained his role as one of Irish sport's enduring, if controversial, administrators.
From 2000, when Hickey blamed the Irish Sports Council and the government for poor Olympic performances, he has managed to avoid every single politically charged bullet.
But as head honcho, should he not exude some sense of the national embarrassment caused by this latest dent to the sport's reputation?
Apparently not. At an Oireachtas committee meeting last month, he blithely exposed the sorry state of equestrian sport's image abroad. "We have been tainted in Ireland with a history of problems at the Olympic Games and we have a bad reputation internationally," he said.
In other words, as he launches another investigation, it's nothing to do with me, folks. "No," he said yesterday when asked should his organisation take any responsibility.
So what other times has he hit the headlines in recent years?
In 2000, he was involved in an ignoble row with Junior Minister Dr Jim McDaid concerning accreditation, or the lack thereof -- a regular gripe of those not within the favoured circle of OCI, in whose gift resides the elusive invites.
After a dismal Games in Athens four years ago -- aside from the doping controversy -- Hickey suggested afterwards that Ireland should concentrate more on minority sports like shooting, an unsubtle dig at the Irish Athletics Association.
Even this year, Hickey became involved in an imbroglio with the ISC over the method of funding for elite athletes -- directly blaming them for the sorry shortfall in funds made available to Ireland's bronze medal hero Paddy Barnes.
As Hickey prepares to carry the torch in the relay at Sunday's closing ceremony, what are the chances of him being around to lead the OCI pack at the London Games in 2012?
In bookies' parlance, you wouldn't bet on it.
- David Kelly
