patrick-hickey-in-rio-september-6-2012-3From Inside the Games

E-mails released by police in Brazil allegedly show that Patrick Hickey spoke to senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials about an “agreement” on Ireland’s ticketing arrangements at Rio 2016.

The messages also reveal an alleged claim from Hickey that he had spoken to IOC President Thomas Bach about the matter.

Seventy-one-year-old Hickey, the President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), was arrested in a dawn raid at last month’s Olympics and is currently facing charges over alleged ticketing offences.

Compatriot Kevin Mallon, the director of THG, one of two agencies at the centre of the allegations, has also been charged and also remains in Brazil.

A number of others indicted had already left the country, with all accused denying any wrongdoing.

Although THG were the authorised ticket reseller (ATR) for London 2012 and Sochi 2014, they were not selected for Rio 2016 and so had no rights to sell tickets.

It is alleged by Brazilian police, however, that Pro10, who were selected, were just a front operation to conceal THG’s involvement.

According to the police e-mails, reported on by the The Irish Independent and Brazilian publication Estadao, Hickey allegedly wrote to Christophe Dubi, executive director of the Olympic Games at the IOC, as well as Pere Miro, the director general of National Olympic Committee relations, about THG’s status as Ireland’s Rio 2016 ticket reseller.

Howard Stupp, the director of legal affairs, and Sidney Levy, the Rio 2016 chief executive, were also alleged recipients.

According to The Irish Independent, Hickey outlined an “agreement” which would see the OCI appoint THG as a “sub agent” with the Irishman then allegedly saying that Bach “confirmed he was in acceptance with it”.

He allegedly asked for the OCI to serve as the ATR for the Games and for the IOC to write THG a “letter of comfort” confirming that the situation would not jeopardise any application for Tokyo 2020.

On this point, Estadao published an e-mail which purportedly shows Stupp drafting a letter, which he says could be signed by Dubi.

It is also alleged that he asked Rio 2016 to give THG the “same rights and obligations as an ATR” and that the company would withdraw their previous request, meaning they “wouldn’t have been rejected as an ATR”.

Read more>>