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Patrick Hickey: European Olympic Committees head arrested in Rio | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police in Brazil have arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Patrick Hickey, in Rio over illegal Olympic ticket sales. | |
Mr Hickey, 71, is suspected of illegally passing on tickets for the Games to be sold on at extortionate prices, Brazilian media report. | |
Mr Hickey, said to be unwell after his arrest, has not yet commented publicly. | |
Police say the suspect, who also heads the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), tried to escape when they came for him. | |
They say he slid his Olympic pass under the door when police came knocking and fled into the adjacent hotel room, where his son had been staying until recently. | They say he slid his Olympic pass under the door when police came knocking and fled into the adjacent hotel room, where his son had been staying until recently. |
After he was arrested he was taken ill and received medical attention, reports say. | After he was arrested he was taken ill and received medical attention, reports say. |
Brazilian media believe Mr Hickey's arrest is related to that of fellow Irishman Kevin James Mallon on the day of the Olympic opening ceremony. | |
Mr Mallon is the director of THG Sports, a sports hospitality company alleged to have resold tickets for Rio 2016 illegally. | Mr Mallon is the director of THG Sports, a sports hospitality company alleged to have resold tickets for Rio 2016 illegally. |
When Mr Mallon was arrested on 5 August, he was found to be in possession of more than 800 top-class tickets for the Games. | |
Police suspect they were to be sold at prices of up to £6,000 ($7,800) each. | Police suspect they were to be sold at prices of up to £6,000 ($7,800) each. |
THG said Mr Mallon had not sold or sought to sell tickets but had been holding them for collection by clients of the Irish authorised ticket reseller, Pro 10 Management. | THG said Mr Mallon had not sold or sought to sell tickets but had been holding them for collection by clients of the Irish authorised ticket reseller, Pro 10 Management. |
The OCI said it would launch an inquiry into the ticket sale controversy but has been criticised for rejecting a call by the Irish Sports Minister to bring in independent investigators. | |
Last week, the OCI wrote on its website there was "absolutely no suggestion of misconduct or impropriety" by the OCI or any of its staff. | Last week, the OCI wrote on its website there was "absolutely no suggestion of misconduct or impropriety" by the OCI or any of its staff. |
Mr Hickey was elected head of the European Olympic Committees in 2006 and has been in charge of the Olympic Council of Ireland since 1989. | |
He has also been on the IOC executive board since 2012. |