THE OLYMPIC COUNCIL of Ireland are set to congregate in July for a meeting that is likely to confirm that the Olympic torch will take a detour through Ireland during its trip around Britain.

An OCI spokesperson confirmed to TheScore that a deal was close, after the British and Irish governments gave their approval to the deal and said that it was only now “subject to OCI approval”.

He added that Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, was working hard to ensure a deal was made.

According to the spokesperson, as part of the schedule for the torch’s current 70-day tour through Britain, an unspecified day in June has been reserved for any potential Irish journey. He added that the OCI would hold an “executive meeting” in July, in which “formal ratification” would likely take place, giving the go-ahead for the torch to make an Irish appearance.

According to the official website for the Games, the current scheduled route will “travel within an hour of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey,” including some parts of Northern Ireland – Portrush, Derry, Belfast and Newry.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports that the look of the London 2012 Olympic torch has been revealed.

The torch, which was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, has three sides that indicate each of the three times the city has hosted the games – in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

Ex-Olympic medal-winning athlete and Chairman of London 2012, Sebastian Coe, stated: “The torch that carries the Olympic flame during the Olympic torch relay is one of the most recognisable and significant symbols of an Olympic Games.

“Members of the public right across the UK are busy nominating inspiring people to be torchbearers and I am thrilled we have a beautifully designed, engineered and crafted torch for them to carry.”