Former Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey is "on his way home from Brazil after a court decision in Rio de Janeiro cleared the way for his passport to be returned, almost four and a half months since leaving Ireland to attend the Rio Olympics," according to Ian O'Riordan of the IRISH TIMES. Central to the release of his passport is the condition Hickey agrees "to attend all aspects of the ongoing legal process" with regard to the charges of ticket-touting during the Rio Games, which resulted in his arrest on Aug. 17 at his five-star hotel in Rio. He stepped aside from his position as president of the OCI once those charges were made, "while claiming his innocence and intention on clearing his name." The court order states that Hickey is now free to leave Brazil provided he agrees "to attend all aspects of the ongoing legal process, as requested, and in his absence that he maintain representation to receive intimations of the court." This completes the "lengthy process" of Hickey requesting his passport be returned due to health grounds, some two weeks after his bail bond of around €410,000 ($436,050) was submitted by the Association of National Olympic Committees (IRISH TIMES, 12/12).
