THE OLYMPIC COUNCIL of Ireland are set to congregate in July for a meeting that is likely to confirm that the Olympic torch will take a detour through Ireland during its trip around Britain.
An OCI spokesperson confirmed to TheScore that a deal was close, after the British and Irish governments gave their approval to the deal and said that it was only now “subject to OCI approval”.
He added that Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, was working hard to ensure a deal was made.
According to the spokesperson, as part of the schedule for the torch’s current 70-day tour through Britain, an unspecified day in June has been reserved for any potential Irish journey. He added that the OCI would hold an “executive meeting” in July, in which “formal ratification” would likely take place, giving the go-ahead for the torch to make an Irish appearance.
According to the official website for the Games, the current scheduled route will “travel within an hour of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey,” including some parts of Northern Ireland – Portrush, Derry, Belfast and Newry.
Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports that the look of the London 2012 Olympic torch has been revealed.
The torch, which was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, has three sides that indicate each of the three times the city has hosted the games – in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
Ex-Olympic medal-winning athlete and Chairman of London 2012, Sebastian Coe, stated: “The torch that carries the Olympic flame during the Olympic torch relay is one of the most recognisable and significant symbols of an Olympic Games.
“Members of the public right across the UK are busy nominating inspiring people to be torchbearers and I am thrilled we have a beautifully designed, engineered and crafted torch for them to carry.”
Hup outta that… Happy days the Olympic torch is coming to Ireland! This is bbrriilliiaanntt!
and it will be burning Corrib gas Yehahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Great,we can burn the banks and bondholders with it
Barry, because WE ARE NOT HOSTING THE GAMES ………………………
So, it’s no harm in it coming through our country
The Brits are having a laugh on us.
Why should the torch come we Ireland. We’re not hosting the Games. This fecking bandwagon crap will be the death of us !
Why wouldn’t you want it to come to Ireland??
How is wanting something positive considered a bad thing and “jumping on the bandwagon”?
The Brits have done enough torching
in the past already!
A nice gesture from the British, but I cant help thinking that the world will be even more confused as to whether or not we are still in the UK???
Last time I looked, Dublin was in Ireland. Have a look yourself there Alan – it’s on the east coast of Ireland just north of Bray and south of Drogheda. Here endeth the geography lesson.
So will it be coming to Ireland or just Dublin?
Oh god, here we go…..
Well said Eddie, it is fantastic news to see that the Olympic Torch will be coming to Ireland, north and south. We will always have the objectors and detractors of anything positive but lets rejoice in a bit of good news which is long overdue.