Hickey re-elected to Olympic post

By Colm O’Connor

Saturday, November 28, 2009

IRELAND’S Pat Hickey was last night unanimously re-elected President of the European Olympic Committees.

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) represent the Olympic interests of the 49 nations of Europe and the Olympic Council of Ireland chief will serve another four year term until 2013 following the vote at a General Assembly meeting in Lisbon last night.

The priorities in his new term will be to oversee the continent’s challenge for Olympic success at the London Games in 2012 and the development of sports in conjunction with the new European Union constitution.

International Olympic Committee President Dr Jacques Rogge congratulated Hickey on his reappointment.

Rogge said: "Pat is a superb leader, one who continues to help us manage and resolve the many issues that sport faces in Europe and beyond."

Next month Hickey will receive France’s highest decoration, the prestigious Legion d’Honneur, from French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, in recognition of his contribution to Olympic sport in Europe.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, November 28, 2009