Medal saga giving Irish a bad name
Council president Pat Hickey said the saga was being discussed Europe-wide and it would reflect badly on a number of national organisations as well as on Irish people.
“It is giving us a bad image,” he told the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism. “But that’s life and, when it arises, we have to go through the proper procedures.”
Mr Hickey said everybody had moved “way too fast” and should wait for O’Connor to decide how he wanted to proceed.
On the subject of drugs, Mr Hickey said there would always be people who cheat, but the focus had to be on weeding them out.
“I know people are cynical but we are turning the corner,” he said. “In Athens there were 26 positive tests and 16 no-shows - the cheats are starting to realise that the sheriff is in town.
“The Olympic movement is moving in the right direction and we have no worries about that.”
Senior OCI members were quizzed by the committee on the Irish performance in Athens.
Mr Hickey said immigrants would make up a large proportion of Irish Olympic teams by 2012.
“The standard of wrestling, weightlifting and ladies volleyball in clubs has increased enormously.
“Immigrants are starting to take part and it is very, very good for Irish sport.”
Reflecting on the Irish team’s disappointing overall performance in Athens, the OCI president said he thought Ireland’s expectations were too high.
