DES O'SULLIVAN:DES O'SULLIVAN, who has died aged 87, played an important part in the development of Olympic sport in Ireland.
As president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, he was best known for his staunch rejection of the government's call for a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
The boycott move was the result of pressure on the Charles Haughey-led government of the time by US president Jimmy Carter and British prime minister Margaret Thatcher over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
Working closely with Lord Killanin, who was then president of the International Olympic Committee, O'Sullivan ensured that Ireland fulfilled its Olympic duty to compete at the Moscow Games.
Privately, taoiseach Charles Haughey told him that the government was embarrassed at having to issue the boycott call, but it was under immense political pressure from Britain and the US.
O'Sullivan successfully rallied sports fans, trade unions, clubs, schools and other groups all over the country to support the Irish team.
He sought contributions, large and small, to make up the OCI's financial shortfall following the government's withdrawal of its funding.
He was affectionately recognised as one of the most affable, able and co-operative officials in the history of Ireland's Olympic movement.
O'Sullivan, a quintessential Dubliner, had the rare distinction of having served in every capacity with the Olympic Council of Ireland.
Educated at Synge Street school in Dublin and small in stature, Des started in sport as an amateur boxing referee.
O'Sullivan was ideal for the cox's role in rowing and, in 1941, was involved in the now defunct Dublin Rowing Club before moving to Neptune RC in 1942.
He was a member of the crew that won the All-Ireland championship eights in 1944 and subsequently became captain and later president of the Neptune club.
An outstanding administrator, he was secretary of the Dublin metropolitan regatta committee and joined the Olympic Council in 1957, becoming treasurer a year later.
He attended the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Rome, Mexico and Munich as part of the OCI management team.
In 1976 he served as chef de mission for the Irish team at the Montreal Olympics and was elected president of the Olympic Council in 1977, serving until 1989.
In 1981 he was awarded the silver medal of the Olympic order to mark his outstanding contribution to the Olympic movement worldwide.
The O'Sullivan family originally came from Kanturk, Co Cork.
Des's father opened two O'Sullivan shoe shops in Dublin in the early 1920s, one in Stoneybatter (managed by Desmond's brother Donal) and the other in Thomas Street (managed and eventually owned by Des).
Des was predeceased by his wife Gertie in 2007, his brother Donal and sisters Norah and Teresa.
Desmond D O'Sullivan: born November 16th, 1921; died January 27th, 2008