In addition to arresting Olympic Council of Ireland president Patrick Hickey amid ticket-scalping allegations, Brazilian investigators now also suspect the man who replaced Hickey of being involved in a scheme that could have netted an estimated $3 million, according to the Associated Press.
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“The terms of reference are being circulated and the judge is due to take up his position immediately”, Ross said.
Last week, he announced to set up a non-statutory inquiry into the ticket touting, saying that a retired judge-led non-statutory inquiry is “the most appropriate mechanism to establish the facts”. It will inquire into the actual processes – including procurement and contract awarding by the OCI – as well as the practice of reselling tickets as part of hospitality packages.
The official, Pat Hickey, formerly served as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) and was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
OCI offices in Rio were raided by authorities this week, who said they uncovered emails between Hickey and Marcus Evans, whose namesake company owns THG Sports.
Olive Loughnane, the 20-kilometre race-walking World Champion from 2009 has revealed she was only ever given one ticket from the Olympic Council of Ireland for her family despite competing in four Olympic Games.
The Government inquiry will examine the handling of tickets for the Rio and London Games and the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia as well as corporate governance at the OCI.
THG and PRO10 have denied any wrongdoing over ticket sales.
Hickey is now sharing a cell in Bangu 10 Prison with THG director Kevin Mallon, who was arrested on August 5th in possession of OCI tickets, which should only be distributed through approved ticket reseller Pro10. He was found in possession of around 800 tickets for high-profile sporting events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
All national Olympic Committees get an allocation of tickets to sell with hospitality through an authorized reseller.
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Meanwhile, the Irish government has launched an inquiry into the OCI’S ticket sales dating to 2010.
