McDaid threatens to boycott Olympics

The Minister for Sport and Tourism is threatening to boycott the Sydney Olympics due to a row with the Olympic Council of Ireland…

The Minister for Sport and Tourism is threatening to boycott the Sydney Olympics due to a row with the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) over how many guests he can bring to the Games.

Dr Jim McDaid wants accreditation for himself, two Department officials and Mr John Treacy, chief executive of the Irish Sports Council.

The OCI is refusing to give the Minister four accreditations but has offered three. After hearing he was to be given only three tickets, a furious Dr McDaid wrote to the organisation saying a ticket for Mr Treacy - a former Olympic Silver medallist - would also be needed.

Several frank letters on the matter have been exchanged between the Minister and the chief executive of the OCI, Mr Pat Hickey, in the last two weeks.

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Relations between the two men have been strained due to controversy earlier this year over sponsorship of the Irish Olympic team.

Last May, Mr Hickey was quoted as saying that he would not be inviting the Minister to the Olympics and that he would have to go as a tourist.

The Irish Sports Council has given £3 million towards preparation for the Olympics this year plus an additional £1 million directly to Olympic athletes. It is also paying the costs of training camp in Sydney.

It is understood that the official Sydney Olympics guidelines allow sports ministers accreditation for a partner and two officials.

A spokeswoman in the OCI office in Dublin said yesterday it could not comment on the matter as Mr Hickey was already in Sydney for the games. Asked how many OCI officials had gone with him, she said there was no one left in the Dublin office who could answer the question.