Europe started hosting the continental games later than Asia, America and Africa. In 2012, the Association of European Olympic Committees decided that a separate competition should be held for European athletes and did its first edition in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Patrick Hickey today officially resigned from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) more than six-years after he self-suspended himself following his arrest during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, it was announced here.

As the fourth anniversary approaches of the dawn arrest of Irish sports politician Patrick Hickey at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, sources close to the currently self-suspended International Olympic Committee (IOC) member maintain that he was "a high-profile fall guy".

Four years ago tomorrow (August 17), at 6am, a bemused 71-year-old man was woken by a knock on the door of his room in Rio de Janeiro’s Windsor Marapendi Hotel, where he was staying during the 2016 Olympic Games. Upon opening that door he was confronted by a uniformed policeman. Alongside his early morning visitor, amidst a dazzle of lights, were television cameras and journalists documenting what, it soon transpired, was his arrest.

Fred Hickey has dropped a personal injuries case against the auctioneering business set up by his father, former European Olympic Committee (EOC) President Patrick Hickey.

Self-suspended former European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Patrick Hickey has accepted an invitation to attend this month's European Games in Minsk.

Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) officials have questioned a decision from the European Olympic Committees (EOC) to invite self-suspended former President Patrick Hickey to this month's European Games in Minsk.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland's (OFI) 2017 accounts have revealed legal fees of €349,138 (£300,000/$392,000) in relation to the Rio 2016 ticketing allegations which saw former President Patrick Hickey arrested.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are hiring for the new role of "head of ticketing", claiming among other things, the successful candidate will need to "monitor the integrity" of ticketing systems implemented by organisers at future Games.

Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Gunilla Lindberg has expressed confidence the organisation will recoup the loan they paid to its former vice-president Patrick Hickey.

Full funding amounting to €300,000 (£266,000/$356,000) has been restored to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) by the country's Government, it has been announced.

Janez Kocijančič has been elected permanent President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) by acclamation to replace Patrick Hickey today.

Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) officials have admitted the loan they paid to its former vice-president Patrick Hickey last year to allow him to receive bail and return from Brazil may not be repaid.

A judge in Rio de Janeiro has rejected claims of "irregularities"brought by a lawyer in the case of Kevin Mallon, an Irish employee of  THG Sports, the British company at the centre of claims that tickets were sold on the black market and who faces charges including ambush marketing, ticket touting, tax evasion, criminal association, and larceny.

A controversial nine-year ticketing deal between the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) and British firm THG has been terminated, it was announced today.