News

Delegates from 17 National Olympic Committees, including the Olympic Council of Ireland, visited the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) headquarters today for an update about plans for the Games.

The IOC's Coordination Commission, led by Morocco's Nawal El Moutawakel, says the Brazilian city is off to "a good start," after completing their first visit since they were awarded the Games last October but said that they had to keep up a good pace from the start because the scale of the project is so ambitious.

An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, TD, officially opened the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on Friday, 14 May. The stadium which will be the new home for Ireland’s International rugby and soccer teams is a joint venture by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Members of the Olympic Council of Ireland were in attendance at the opening.

Our President – Pat Hickey is in Rio de Janeiro today in his capacity as member of the International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for the 2016 Games, along with 17 other members of the commission on an inspection visit of Rio.

Celebrations marking 99 days to go until the inaugural Youth Olympic Games were held across the host city of Singapore today, with the Singapore Organising Committee (SYOGOC) enthusiastically proclaiming: “We are ready!”

A high powered delegation from Horse Sport Ireland held discussions with the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) this week and reported on progress being made on the implementation of the ‘Clean Sport’ campaign being run by the international equestrian federation, FEI.

Congratulations to the Irish Boxing team who won Gold and Silver medals at the Junior World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and in the process qualified 2 places for Ireland at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this Summer.

The Olympic Council of Ireland with deep sympathy confirms that Mr. Piotr Nurowski, President of the Polish Olympic Committee died in the plane crash at Smolensk, Russia on Saturday, 10th April, 2010.

Former IOC President and Honorary Life President of the International Olympic Committee – HE Juan Antonio Samaranch has passed away in Barcelona.

Korean Ambassador Chang Yeob Kim met the Olympic Council of Ireland President Patrick Hickey in Olympic House, Howth this morning.

The Olympic Council of Ireland express their deepest sympathy to the family of the late Mr Eamonn Doherty who passed away yesterday following a long illness.

Commenting on the death of Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the IOC, Pat Hickey said that he was a true friend of Ireland. ”He enjoyed his many visits to Ireland – both on holiday and on business with the Olympic Council of Ireland.