Olympic torch may be carried in Republic before 2012 games

OLYMPIC COUNCIL of Ireland president Pat Hickey believes the success of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland will help seal another historic and symbolic visit next summer – in the form of the Olympic torch.

Not only will it be the first time the Olympic torch has been carried here, it will be its only detour outside Britain and Northern Ireland in the lead-up to the London 2012 games.

Plans are in place for the torch to be carried over the Border from Northern Ireland into the Republic, then on a brief relay around Dublin, although this still has to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its next executive meeting in July.

Mr Hickey says the visit of the Olympic torch would be a further manifestation of improved British-Irish relations. “This is actually something we’ve been working on for the last four years,” said Mr Hickey, “and I’d be very confident it will get the final go-ahead.”

The development was welcomed last night by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, speaking beside British prime minister David Cameron before the two men held a meeting.

“This would be outside the normal conventional regulations and would be exceptionally well-received in Ireland. Both governments will give full support to this if the International Olympic Council agrees,” Mr Kenny said.

Mr Hickey said that following the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the international committee made a rule that the Olympic torch must remain in the country hosting the games. He said this arose from “the demonstrations that followed the Beijing torch relay around the world”.

However, the Olympic Council of Ireland represented the whole island of Ireland, he said. “So at every Olympics nearly a quarter of our athletes and officials come from Northern Ireland, which is under British jurisdiction, so we feel it’s only right the torch comes here as well . . .

“The Olympic torch is a symbol of peace, and right now we have the backing of the Irish Government, the British government, and the London organising committee.”

He said the president of the international committee, Jacques Rogge, was also supportive of the plan. Ultimately, however, the decision would be a matter for the board of the committee at its meeting in Durban, South Africa, on July 6th.

It has already been agreed the torch will visit Northern Ireland on June 3rd, 2012, taking in Portrush, Derry, Newry and Belfast – and it is at that stage that a visit to Dublin is envisaged, most likely on June 5th.

“The plan is for the torch to cross the Border and that would be a great celebration. The plan then is to bring the torch to Dublin, and have short relay around Dublin,” said Mr Hickey.

The only problem, he added, was deciding who would get to carry the torch, “because we would be looking to include the wide Irish sporting community, not just Olympic sports, but also rugby, soccer and GAA”.