Commission disbanded

THE Athletes Commission, set up to give international sports people a greater role in the affairs of the Olympic Council of Ireland, has been disbanded by the executive council of the OCI.

Since its inception the commission has been at loggerheads over a constitution that, the OCI insisted, should be changed to be in line with the Olympic Charter, though the athletes claimed otherwise.

The athletes took issue with three points of change enforced upon them relating to no mention of funding, which they had requested from the OCI, that no two athletes from the same sport could sit on the commission and that athletes had to be in good standing with their national federation.

Their differences came into the public domain at the EGM called last March to vote on proposed changes in the method of voting.

Behind the scenes the row over the constitution raged and, according to an OCI spokesman, deadlines had been set to have it finalised but none were met and he confirmed that at last week's executive meeting, the Athletes Commission was disbanded.

"Basically they did not agree with the articles of association," Jack McGouran said last night. "They wanted, realistically, to be a totally independent body. We wrote to them five times but did not get a response.

"As of now the plug has been pulled on them and the Olympic Council of Ireland is now moving to form a new Athletes Commission."

He said185 people were eligible to vote and 12 turned up at Trinity College two years ago. This time they may be asked to vote by e-mail or letter.

He said there was nothing to suggest outgoing members would not be re-elected but he insisted the commission would have to adopt articles of association in line with the Olympic Charter.

In a statement issued last evening Terry McHugh and Paul Donovan, chairman and secretary respectively of the now defunct Athletes Commission said they were disappointed with what had happened, particularly with the response from the OCI to Sergey Bubka's suggestion deadlines be relaxed in order to have the matter resolved amicably.

McHugh and Donovan, on behalf of the athletes, said they were disappointed the OCI had ignored Bubka's intervention, refused dialogue with the athletes and dissolved the commission. In a joint statement they said prior to this week's OCI annual general meeting they learned the executive had declared the Athletes Commission defunct, meaning the athletes representative committee, elected by Irish Olympic athletes, would have no representation tomorrow night.

They said forming the Athletes Commission was not only a recommendation of the Sydney Review Committee but was also required by the Olympic Charter.

"On launching the commission the OCI informed the athletes it was the athletes commission set up by the athletes, for the athletes, using international guidelines supplied by the International Athletes Commission.

"They were told, without interference from the OCI, to write their own constitution and elect their own committee which they duly did."

They claimed since its inception the commission had been treated to the same management style as was prevalent at the Sydney Games with no dialogue just ultimatums and directions issued.

"We've been trying to work with the OCI executive for some time but continually faced obstruction. It is no surprise to us this action has been taken as they have been heavy-handed from the outset and unwilling to meet and discuss athlete issues," the statement said.