'OCI is under attack from ill-informed critics', Pat Hickey's deputy claims

One of the leaders to succeed Pat Hickey as leader of the Olympic Council of Ireland has issued a staunch resistance of the beset association in front of races to its official panel.

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Acting president Willie O'Brien asserted the OCI has been "under assault from personal stakes and poorly educated analysts".

He additionally demanded that the association, where he has served on the official board of trustees for as far back as 20 years, was "all around oversaw".

The remarks, made in a question and answer session with RTÉ Sport yesterday, seem to go against a basic report by advisors Deloitte, which Mr O'Brien has promised to actualize.

That report, dispatched in the wake of Mr Hickey's capture over ticket touting claims in Rio de Janeiro, found the OCI was an association that neglected to hold fast to a number of the essential necessities of well-run bodies. It inferred that outline lines between office holders gave off an impression of being neither comprehended nor watched and observed straightforwardness to need, with no oversight of evaluating and compensation capacities.

Mr O'Brien said the greatest test confronting the OCI was restoring the certainty of its part organizations that it was fit for reason and not ailing in straightforwardness and openness.

"The test is to accomplish the above, while keeping away from diversion from time-wasters, influence searchers and unified components, to improve the phenomenal arrangement structures as of now set up at the OCI," he said. "We have been under assault from personal stakes and some poorly educated analysts, the greater part of whom don't comprehend that the OCI is a very much oversaw self-sufficient body liable to the International Olympic Committee and the national organizations."

Mr O'Brien has gone about as the OCI's leader since Mr Hickey moved to one side incidentally taking after his capture.

Mr Hickey, who is presently home in Dublin on safeguard, denies any wrongdoing.

Mr O'Brien's remarks came as contender for decision at the OCI's EGM in Dublin this evening occupied with a series of a minute ago campaigning for votes among the committee's 36 part organizations.

The race for the administration is being battled between Mr O'Brien, Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane and Basketball Ireland CEO Bernard O'Byrne.

Eleven other official advisory group spots will likewise be filled.