Irish Sports Council to review Beijing Games without OCI

THE Irish Sports Council (ISC) is pressing ahead with its Beijing review without the involvement of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), an ISC spokesman confirmed last night.

Paul McDermott revealed: “Neil Tunnicliff, the consultant who carried out the Athens review, is also carrying out the Beijing review which is at an advanced stage. We would expect it will be published this side of Christmas.”

The Steering Group in charge of the review is chaired by Judge Rory McCabe and also includes Pat O’Neill, a former chairman of the ISC, and top business executive Gary Owens.

Dan Flintoff chaired the steering group for the hard-hitting Athens review which involved the OCI and laid the foundation for a more successful Games in Beijing where Ireland took three medals in boxing. It was confirmed at last Friday night’s EGM that the OCI had opted out of this year’s review and is undertaking their own study of the Beijing Games.

“The Chef de Mission (Dermot Henihan) has undertaken an in-depth review of our preparation for and participation in the Beijing Games which is continuing as we meet,” OCI honorary secretary Dermot Sherlock told delegates.

He said questionnaires had been completed by participants in Beijing which would be analysed by professionals and reviewed by consultants.

“This review will be the only review in which the OCI will participate and this fact has been clearly pointed out to the ISC in regard to the Beijing Games,” he said.

“It is the considered view of the OCI that a body conducting a review must not also be a party under review which has been the case as far as the ISC is concerned in the reviews of the Sydney and Athens Games.

“The OCI would of course participate in any review conducted by the Minister for Sport with all other parties equally being reviewed without any possibility of a conflict of interest arising.”

According to figures presented by the honorary treasurer, Peadar Casey, on Friday night, the Irish Sports Council gave the OCI €1,141,279 towards administration and a further €566,227 towards programmes and activities.

“I would like to thank the Irish Sports Council for their support of the Beijing Olympiad which amounted to a total of €1,707,506,” he said.

“I would also like to acknowledge the great assistance received from the Minister of Art Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, TD, and his officials.”