DREAM PUT ON HOLD: Ng Ser Miang's dream to retire at 60 and sail around the world will have to wait as he pilots Singapore on a great sports journey. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM

But, with just over a year to go before Ng Ser Miang reaches that milestone, it seems very unlikely that the goal will be reached.

'It would have been nice to be able to see the world from the seas,' said the 58-year-old avid sailor. 'But the dream will have to wait for a while.'

However, he is unlikely to be too upset about delaying his retirement plans.

For while he may have postponed the chance of playing skipper on board his yacht - the Magic Dragon - he is piloting what could probably be Singapore sports' greatest journey.

In two weeks, that journey could end with Singapore becoming the first country to host the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

The Republic and Moscow are locked in a battle which will be decided when International Olympic Committee members cast their votes by post on Friday week.

But it will only be on Feb 21 that the winner will be announced.

For Ng, who mooted the idea of hosting the event last May, it has been a crazy nine months working on a project he calls the 'biggest campaign of his sporting career'.

'When you consider the magnitude and importance of this event, the others just pale in comparison,' said the former chairman of the Singapore Sports Council.

'Hosting the Youth Olympics would do something that has never been done for Singapore,' added Ng, who has also served as the vice-president of the International Sailing Federation and was a silver medallist in sailing at the 1969 South-east Asian Peninsular Games.

'It would expose the entire nation to the Olympic movement, its beliefs and values. It will leave a legacy for generations, long after the Games concludes.

'Already, just by bidding for the Games, there has been so much excitement, passion and enthusiasm, especially among the young.'

Indeed, what first started out as a vision for Ng and the Singapore National Olympic Council is now the dream of an entire nation.

More than 500 businesses are backing the bid for the Games, with companies showing their support by creating car decals or organising events to bring awareness to the cause.

With the Youth Olympics featuring teenagers aged from 14 to 18, it is little wonder that the youth are also embracing the notion of being able to host the world's best young athletes in 2010.

Last month, more than 3,000 students and educators gathered for the biggest YOG event to date, playing games and performing cheers and mass dances.

Said IOC Executive Board member Ng: 'What touched me the most was how pro-active these kids are.

'They blog, they make videos, they organise events, all mostly on their own accord.

'They've even coined the term 'Yoggers', a term they affectionately call themselves.

'And what's even more heartening to note is that the noise they make has been heard far away, by some of my IOC colleagues as well.'

The founder of Tibs, the second bus company in Singapore, the former Nominated Member of Parliament can count being the ambassador to Norway and Hungary and the chairman of NTUC FairPrice among the many other hats he wears.

But should Singapore get the nod to host the 2010 Games, Ng will most definitely be known as the man who helped bring the Olympics to Singapore.

Elected to the IOC in 1998, he was instrumental in Singapore hosting the General Association of International Sports Federations in 2001 and the 117th IOC Session in 2005.

Said the father of three: 'Ever since I got elected into the IOC, my dream has been to bring big sporting events to Singapore.

'We knew we will probably never host an Olympic Games. So we tried to get the big non-sporting events.

'But now that there is the Youth Olympics and it is an event tailor-made for Singapore.

'There isn't the need for big stadia or budgets like the traditional Summer Games.

'Yet, the impact felt will be just as great, if not greater, for a country such as Singapore.'

Ng will spend only the first day of Chinese New Year in Singapore before flying off to Nagano, Japan, tomorrow for an IOC event.

There, he will again resume the role he has been playing for the last nine months, as the international face of Singapore's bid as he spreads good word about the Republic's proposal.

'Now you know why I can't sail around the world,' he said with a laugh.

'But it's a small sacrifice. I'm just hoping that this Chinese New Year will end on an especially good note.

'The 15th day (of Chinese New Year) falls on Feb 21. Winning the bid that day would be a nice way to end the New Year celebrations.'

marclim@sph.com.sg

'Now you know why I can't sail around the world.'

NG SER MIANG, who will fly off to Nagano tomorrow for an IOC event. There, he will resume the role he has been playing for the last nine months - as the international face of Singapore's bid for the Youth Olympic Games