Europe’s top Olympic official steps down after arrest; Brazil in football final; Kipruto strikes gold

Patrick Hickey, the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland, has temporarily stood down from all his roles in the Olympic movement following his arrest over illegal ticket sales in Brazil, the OCI said Wednesday.
Hickey, 71, was arrested at his Rio hotel after being accused of ticket scalping, ambush marketing and conspiracy.
He was taken away from the hotel in an ambulance amid concerns for his health.
The OCI statement said he had stepped down temporarily from his role with the Irish body as well as an International Olympic Committee member, president of the European Olympic Committees and vice president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.
“In light of this morning’s developments and his ill health, Mr.Hickey has taken the decision to step aside temporarily as president of the OCI and all other Olympic functions (IOC member in Ireland, European Olympic president, ANOC vice president) until this matter is fully resolved.
“Mr Hickey will of course continue to co-operate and assist with all ongoing inquiries.”
Prosecutors have estimated the profits from the alleged black market sales at $3 million dollars.
“We will be fully cooperating with any police investigation,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press conference.
“Mr Hickey is entitled for the world and everyone to believe he is innocent until proven guilty,” he added. “Let’s not jump the gun on this one.”
Brazilian police have launched a widening investigation after seizing more than 1,000 premier tickets for Games events, including the opening ceremony.
Tickets with a face value of about $1,000 dollars were sold for more than $8,000. Some of the tickets had the Olympic Council of Ireland name on them.
The OCI would only say that it was “seeking total clarity on the situation” before commenting.
Kevin James Mallon, a director of THG Sports, was arrested in Rio on August 5 in possession of the tickets. THG Sports was licensed to resell London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympic tickets. Hickey’s son Stephen used to work at THG.
Brazilian prosecutors issued warrants for Hickey and other figures including Marcus Evans, a British hospitality businessman and owner of English Championship football club Ipswich.
Hickey has been a member of the IOC executive board since 2012. As head of the European body he has been instrumental in setting up the European Games which was first held in Baku, Azerbaijan, last year.
Neymar scored twice, including the fastest goal in Olympics history, as Brazil coasted into Saturday’s gold medal football match with a 6-0 thrashing of Honduras at Rio’s iconic Maracana.
The hosts now have the chance to ease some of the pain caused by a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany on home soil at the 2014 World Cup by delivering Brazil’s first football gold medal.
A mouth-watering rematch with the Germans is in store should the world champions see off 1996 winners Nigeria in Wednesday’s other semifinal, later in Sao Paulo.
Neymar had been much criticized for his lacklustre displays in two 0-0 draws to start the tournament, but his transformation back from the nation’s whipping boy to golden boy was capped by his determination to open the scoring after just 15 seconds.
The Barcelona star hounded defender Johnny Palacios to rob possession on the edge of the Honduras box and goalkeeper Luis Lopez’s attempt to atone for his teammate’s error only ricocheted the ball off Neymar’s midriff and into an empty goal.
For a moment, Neymar’s bravery looked like it may have come at a cost as he had to be stretchered off after being winded in the challenge.
In athletics, Conseslus Kipruto stormed to victory in the men’s 3000m steeplechase on Wednesday to extend Kenya’s remarkable winning streak in the event.
Kipruto timed an Olympic record of 8min 03.28sec for gold, American Evan Jager taking silver in 8:04.28.
Two-time Olympic champion and reigning four-time world gold medalist Ezekiel Kemboi, also of Kenya, claimed bronze (8:08.47) and promptly brought the curtain down on his illustrious career.
“The Rio 3000m steeplechase was my last race after a long career of 18 years,” Kemboi said.
Kipruto took up the early running in scorching heat at the Olympic Stadium, Jager happy to take the baton for a couple of laps before surging with two laps to run.
Kemboi tracked the American, moving into second with Kipruto, the world silver medallist who is also world leader and has won all five Diamond League outings this year, also threatening.
In temperatures hitting 36 degrees Celsius (97F), the field had strung out before the bell went for the final lap, Kipruto exploding down the back straight to build up what proved to be an unassailable lead.
Coming into the home stretch, Kipruto cast a glance back over his shoulders before stretching out his arms as he crossed the line for a comprehensive win.
Jager, sixth at both the Beijing and London Games, produced one last spurt to overtake a fast-fading Kemboi for silver, the Kenyan left with a bronze to add to his amazing medal tally. It was the United States’ first medal in the men’s steeplechase since 1984.
Kipruto’s victory means that Kenya have now bagged nine consecutive golds in the event stretching back to 1988.
Kenya, who have swept the medals twice in that time (1992, 2004), have also taken at least two of the three medals on offer at every Olympics since that streak started.
Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir defeated Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying of Malaysia to win Olympic gold in the badminton mixed doubles on Wednesday.
The Indonesian pair took the first game 21-14 before completing the victory with a 21-12 triumph in the second, delighting a noisy contingent of Indonesian fans who chanted their country’s name throughout.
Ahmad and Natsir had stunned top seeds and defending champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China in the semis and brought their sensational form into the final, dominating from the outset.

Source: Arab News