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The 2012 Olympic torch could visit Dublin Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Press Association Images

London 2012 chairman backs Dublin visit for Olympic torch

Sebastian Coe said a symbolic visit to the Republic “would speak eloquently and powerfully for sport”.

LONDON 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe has thrown his support behind an Irish bid to have the Olympic torch visit Dublin before next year’s Games.

Sebastian Coe said he would like to see the torch make a trip to the Republic during its tour of the North, and that such a visit would speak “eloquently and powerfully for sport”.

The Olympic Committee of Ireland has lobbied hard for the torch to visit Dublin, and even mapped out a provisional route. The trip would begin with a symbolic crossing of the border to mark 14 years of peace in Ireland, the OCI have said.

A spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the OCI welcomed Coe’s support. “He’s been supportive from day one,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve worked very closely with him on this. He has very strong Irish connections and understands the importance of the visit with regard to the peace process.”

Yesterday, Coe told a House of Commons committee in London: “I have spent a lot of time on this both in Northern Ireland and in conversations with the Republic. I would like to see a small visit south of the border.”

He said “complex discussions” were under way but it was the “ambition” of the organising committee to arrange the visit.

Ireland will field a 32-county team in the Games, which will take place in London next summer. The final decision on whether to allow the torch visit the Republic will be taken at an International Olympic Committee meeting on December 9.

After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it was decided that the torch should not travel outside the host nation prior to the Games.

- Additional reporting from AP

Read more: Here’s where the Olympic torch will be headed in Ireland next year…>

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8 Comments
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    Mute BJ
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    Nov 16th 2011, 11:00 AM

    We’ve more friends in London than we do in Brussels…

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    Mute Carl Shine
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    Nov 16th 2011, 12:07 PM

    Spoken like a true West Brit with a short memory – Fine Gael, through and through.

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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Nov 16th 2011, 12:22 PM

    There are no friends in foreign relations or Intl. business.

    While I can see us going back to the Sterling peg, or indeed, going back in to sterling if the Euro crash accelerates, even quicker (it is going quick enough as is). We should remember that the North of England is considered an annoying pimple to the City of London, whose reliance on Financial Service has destroyed Britain as a balanced economy.

    If people think that they are going to care more about us than most of their bloody populace there, they are going to get a hell of a surprise.

    There are a sizeable minority here, who’ll try to use this crisis in to restoring the union with Britain. A currency peg, with Sterling and other currencies is more realistic and suitable for Ireland. Sterling will rocket in value if the Euro goes, it has massive problems of its own but capital will fly out of the Euro zone and in to it. We would just be replacing the massive problems of the Euro with new ones, and still have no control over our economy.

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    Mute Peter Nolan
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    Nov 16th 2011, 1:15 PM

    Hmm… I’d like it to come here. But I’d like the Olympics to change the ridiculous decision that the torch no longer travels through various countries on its way to the host.

    If it coming to Dublin means the Olympic body tacitly ruling Ireland part of the ‘host nation’ then, no.

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    Mute Martin Mc Cormack
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    Nov 16th 2011, 3:28 PM

    Ah, nothing like a circus to keep the peasants becalmed

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    Mute fitszpatrick
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    Nov 16th 2011, 6:14 PM

    I am sure Lord Coe thinks that the torch should visit all parts of the uk not just the mainland. He thinks it is important now that the IRA have surrendered and the people of Eire, Catholics and normal people, have welcomed her majesty back to her throne.

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    Mute Silent P
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    Nov 17th 2011, 12:36 AM

    You’ve just gone and opened up a big can of whip-ass there Fitz. Enjoy the abuse.

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    Mute Lou Brennan
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    Nov 16th 2011, 4:13 PM

    Yeah but only to set the place alight.

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