Lord Killanin, who died ten years ago at the age of 84, was a former President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, a position he was elected to in 1950 and held until 1973.

 

He was elected a member of the International IOC in 1952 and became the President in 1972, succeeding the American Avery Brundage just after the official closing of the controversial Munich Olympic Games.

 

Killanin, who was born in London and educated at Eton, was the President for eight years during arguably the most difficult time in the IOC's history.

With Killanin at the helm, the Olympic Movement had to deal with the financial flop of the 1976 Montréal Olympics and the boycotts of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
 

He was repalced after the Moscow Games by Juan Antonio Samaranch.

 

 

The Irish Olympians Association, headed by 1956 1500 metres champion Ronnie Delany, commissioned the bronze bust in association with the OCI to commemorate Killanin’s huge input to the development of Olympic sport in Ireland and on the world stage.

The bronze sculpture was created by Paul Ferriter, one of Dublin’s best known practitioners, and is placed in the front garden area of the OCI's headquarters.

 

The bust was officially unveiled by the current IOC President, Jacques Rogge, at a special ceremony attended by several dignatries, including Patrick Hickey, the President of the OCI and the European Olympic Committee.