Sports organisations in the Benefacts Database of Irish Nonprofits

Besides the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), there are more than 3,000 sports organisations listed today in the Benefacts Database of Irish Nonprofits. All enjoy the benefit of tax relief from Revenue, but only a handful are registered as charities by the Charities Regulator – this is because Section 2 the Charities Act 2009 specifically excludes sport from the definition of a charity in Irish law.

The OCI makes public disclosures as a company limited by guarantee, and these documents are re-published and analysed on their Benefacts listing. This indicates that the company was incorporated 34 years ago, in 1981, and reported having four paid employees in 2014. In addition, the company’s audited financial statements for that year report the payment of a €60,000 “Honorarium” to the Chairman of the Board (called the President in the company’s constitution), Patrick Joseph Hickey.

Besides the OCI’s President, who took office in 1982, six Directors have served for more than nine years including one who has served for 23 years, and three who have each served for 19 years on the Board, which is called the Executive Committee in the company’s constitution – download it here.

The Benefacts listing for OCI indicates that the company’s income in 2014 – of which 32% came from the Irish Sports Council - grew by 62% over the previous year, and its expenses by 25%. Net assets at €2m remained almost the same.

Besides paying for its own staff and overhead costs, the OCI distributed grants totalling €206,400 to “Olympic Solidarity Courses/Team Support” and to 12 affiliated sporting organisations – all listed in the Benefacts database of Irish Nonprofits: Rowing Ireland, Gymnastics Ireland, Swim Ireland, Snowsports Association of Ireland, Weightlifting Ireland, Basketball Ireland, National Target Shooting Association, Irish Ice Hockey Association, Irish Fencing Federation, Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Cycling Ireland, and Archery Ireland.