Hickey, who is the President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is due to travel back from here to attend a dinner being put on tomorrow by the British Ambassador Julian King.

There Hickey will present several Irish athletes who hope to compete at London 2012 to the Queen.

They will include Derval O'Rourke, the former world indoor 60 metres hurdles champion, and Katie Taylor, the five-time world amateur boxing champion who is set to be one of the country's biggest hopes for an Olympic gold medal next year.

The visit by the Queen is the first by a British monarch to Ireland for 100 years and has drawn worldwide attention.

Hickey, who last month hailed British Prime Minister David Cameron for his efforts in improving relations between the two countries, has been closely following the Queen's trip while he has been here attending the technical presentations of the three cities bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

"Everyone wants to move on," Hickey told insidethegames.

"The past is the past and there is great goodwill in the whole of Ireland for the Queen's visit.

"Her visit to the Garden of Rememberance [a momument to all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom] was really poignant."

The fact the visit has passed off without any major security problems should ensure that the Olympic Torch can visit Ireland next year.

Dublin still has to be officially confirmed on the schedule, which was announced today, but is due to visit there on June 7, 2012.

The inclusion on Ireland on the programme will be officially announced after the IOC's ruling Executive Board gives its approval at its meeting in Durban on July 3-4.

"After the Queen's visit it will be no problem," said Hickey.

"It will be the icing on the cake after the Queen's visit."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2011: Details of London 2012 Torch Relay route announced
April 2011: Exclusive - Hickey hails Cameron role in getting London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay to Dublin
June 2010: Exclusive - Plan for Olympic Torch Relay to visit Dublin before London 2012 given big boost
May 2010: London 2012 release details of Olympic Torch Relay
March 2010: Plan for London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay to visit Dublin backed