By Duncan Mackay

Patrick Hickey has been re-elected as President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, extending a term that begun in 1989 ©Getty ImagesPatrick Hickey was tonight elected unopposed in Dublin for a new four-year term as President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), extending a record reign that started a quarter-of-a-century ago. 


It means that Hickey, elected in 1989 when he succeeded Des O'Sullivan, continues as the longest serving leader of any National Olympic Committee in the world. 

Hickey, 69, had already beaten the previous longest term as President of the OCI, a record held by Lord Killanin, who had served for 23 years between 1950 and 1973.

Killanin stood down after succeeding American Avery Brundage as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

"It is a record that I am very proud of," Hickey, who is also President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) , told insidethegames after the election tonight. 

"I am delighted that I have been elected for another term."

A former Irish judo champion and manager of the Irish Olympic team at Los Angeles 1984, Hickey was Ireland's Chef de Mission at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992.

Hckey was elected EOC president in 2006 and is currently serving his third four-year term following his unanimous re-election in 2013.

His biggest legacy is set to be the first European Games, due to be held in Baku next year. 

He became an IOC member in 1996 and was elected for a four-year term to the IOC Executive Board in 2012.

Hickey is also the vice-president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Patrick Hickey has been President of the European Olympic Committees since 2006 and last year was re-elected for another term ©EOCPatrick Hickey has been President of the European Olympic Committees since 2006 and last year was re-elected for another term ©EOC

But there were two significant changes to the management of the OCI with Dermot Sherlock and Peadar Casey stepping down as the honorary general secretary and honorary treasurer respectively, both after long spells.

Sherlock, former British and Irish Universities boxing champion, had held his post since 1992.

He has been replaced by Dermot Henihan, Ireland's Chef de Mission at Beijing 2008 and a former manager of the country's rowing team. 

Casey, Ireland's Olympic rowing team manager at Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980 and Deputy Chef de Mission at Atlanta 1996 and Chef de Mission at Sydney 2000, had been treasurer since 1997.

Kevin Kilty, Ireland's Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, will take over from him.  

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