PAT HICKEY, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, was at the centre of further controversy yesterday after it was disclosed that he was responsible for accrediting an American, Guy McCallum, as a member of the official Irish delegation.

McCallum, who is employed as an agent by the Reebok sportswear company (the OCI's official sponsors), has been afforded official status as a member of the Irish delegation, although he has no direct connection with any of the constituent bodies of the OCI.

Hickey said yesterday that, as a member of the International Olympic Committee, he was entitled to accredit four personal guests. He said that McCallum's accreditation did not directly concern the Olympic Council of Ireland and had no bearing on Ireland's number of accredited officials. He declined to elaborate on what he had done with the other three.

The sense of resentment among members of the Irish track and field delegation over the status accorded to McCallum is obvious at a time when members of BLE's medical team have been refused accreditation by the OCI.