The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) will appoint a new president next month, with three candidates nominated to succeed Pat Hickey.

Sarah Keane, William O’Brien and Bernard O’Byrne are the candidates who will fight it out for the position at next month's Extraordinary General Meeting, set for February 9.

Pat Hickey will not be standing for re-election, the first time he has opted not to run since 1989. Hickey's eligibility for running for re-election was thrown into doubt following the ticketing scandal at last year's Olympic Games and his high profile arrest in Rio.

William O’Brien has been in position as acting president of the OCI and has been nominated by Archery Ireland, the Irish Ice Hockey Association and the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association.

Acting President of the Irish Olympic Council, William O'Brien. Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Sarah Keane, meanwhile, is a member of the Executive Council of the OCI and the she was nominated by Swim Ireland. She became CEO of the body back in 2004.

Basketball Ireland CEO Bernard O’Byrne joined the race for the presidency last week. He took charge of the body back in 2011, following a spell as chief executive of the FAI in the late 1990s.

The vote will take place in Dublin’s Conrad Hotel and the 34 member organisations of the Olympic Council of Ireland will be given a vote to elect their new leader.

Basketball Ireland CEO, Bernard O'Byrne, speaking last September. Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy