Former sprint hurdler Derval O'Rourke has weighed in on the ticket touting scandal which has rocked Irish sport, and called for a higher level of integrity and honesty from the people who run Irish sport.
Yesterday the news emerged from Brazil that OCI chief Pat Hickey had been arrested in his Rio hotel in connection with the ticketing controversy. After speaking to one high profile Olympian, we reported how Hickey's lifestyle in Rio differed greatly to the Irish athletes seeking Olympic glory.
Corkwoman O'Rourke spoke incredibly well on the same topic on RTÉ last night, voicing her frustration at the lack of transparency amongst the suits in Irish sport. She also made reference to how long some of these administrators remain in their roles which, considering recent developments, is surely a facet of Irish sport which must now come under review.
I think it's embarrassing, certainly. But I hope there's a full investigation.
Just from my experience as an athlete, we're held to the highest standards for everything, and we're very accountable, very answerable. And most athletes earn very little money - they do it for the love of the sport - and the least you can expect is integrity and honesty from the people who are the gatekeepers of the sport.
So, for me, when it doesn't look like that's the situation I find it a little bit disgusting to be honest, because athletes come and go but certain people who have jobs, administrators, stay for a very long time. So, I just hope there'll be full investigations for the sake of athletes going forward.
I feel we're a very talented country and athletes deserve the highest level of treatment and professionalism from the people who are running sports.
Derval O'Rourke gives her verdict on the OCI ticket scandal #rterio2016 #rtesport https://t.co/4y79B0u7vN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 18, 2016
O'Rourke received massive praise for her appearance on RTÉ, with both her analysis and her discussion of the Hickey scandal impressing RTÉ viewers to no end.
More @DervalORourke on tv please. Annoyingly brilliant to watch for those of us who badly need sleep. @RTE2 #rterio2016
— Richie Sadlier (@RichieSadlier) August 18, 2016
On administrators; 'they're not the people who represent me, the athletes represent me'. Derval O'Rourke spot on (and Jerry Kiernan too)
— Dodge (@seidodge) August 18, 2016
