This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37107450
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Patrick Hickey: Europe's top Olympic official arrested in Rio | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in Brazil have arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Irishman 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, 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The OCI said in a statement it was "aware of the media stories regarding Pat Hickey and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further". | |
| Mr Hickey is president of the European Olympic Committees, the body which gathers the continent's 50 national Olympic committees together | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 International Olympic Committee's executive board since 2012. |