Police have reviewed documents and emails seized during an operation at the Rio Games last month and have claimed that the full extent of the suspected scalping operation is wider than initially thought.
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Ireland’s Olympic Council President Patrick Hickey arrives to a police station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016.
“Neither the IOC nor the IOC President have been contacted by any Brazilian authority concerning a request for information”, a statement said today.
Speaking in Rio, Ricardo Barbosa said “no one from the IOC” has approached police to ask any questions or clarify procedures since Mr Hickey’s arrest.
Mr Hickey, ex-head of the Irish Olympic Committee, denies all allegations.
Falcao said police had planned to “summon” Bach when he came to Rio for Wednesday’s opening ceremony of the Paralympics, adding that authorities have no evidence that he knew of the alleged ticket scam. The IOC said he would be in Germany for the official state mourning ceremony for former West German President Walter Scheel.
So far, disgraced ex-OCI boss Pat Hickey and THG boss Kevin Mallon are facing charges of ticket touting and larceny, among others.
The email makes no mention, however, as to why Bach has decided not to attend the Paralympic Games, making him the first IOC President to miss the event since 1984.
Bach’s absence from the Paralympic opening ceremony is unprecedented for an International Olympic Committee president since 1984, and had already led to speculation in the Brazilian media.
Brazilian officials have indicated that they may seek prosecution of another seven executives from PRO10 and THG with alleged ties to the scheme said to have been operated.
Also charged alongside Mr Hickey and Mr Mallon are directors or employees of THG Sports and Pro 10 Sports Management.
“For the International Olympic Committee it goes without saying that it will cooperate on this matter”.
Sources have suggested that the passports of the two Irish men could be returned in this interim, but any such decision rests with the Brazilian judiciary.
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Mr Hickey, who has temporarily stood aside as president of the OCI during the investigation, faces a number of charges.
