IOC presidency: No regrets about the campaign I ran, says S'pore candidate Ng

Singapore's Ng Ser Miang (centre) congratulates new International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, German Thomas Bach (right), after the announcement of Mr Bach's election during the 125th IOC session on Sept 10, 2013 in Buenos Aires. -- PHOTO: AFP
Singapore's Ng Ser Miang (centre) congratulates new International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, German Thomas Bach (right), after the announcement of Mr Bach's election during the 125th IOC session on Sept 10, 2013 in Buenos Aires. -- PHOTO: AFP

In the end, the votes just did not fall his way.

But despite a near first-round exit in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential race, Singapore's Ng Ser Miang said he would not have done things any differently.

"I thought deeply about the process the last few weeks and am happy with the campaign I ran," said Ng shortly after the results were announced.

"As with any election, the dynamics can change very quickly."

Ng was tied with Chinese Taipei's Wu Ching-kuo on six votes after the first round, putting the pair at the bottom of the pile of six candidates. Ng would go on to win the tie-breaker 56-36 but saw his dreams of becoming the IOC's first Asian president end in the second round.

New IOC president Thomas Bach of Germany won the contest with 49 votes of the 93 votes cast, followed by Puerto Rico's Richard Carrion (29), Ng (6), Switzerland's Denis Oswald (5) and Ukraine's Sergei Bubka (4).

The result marked an end to Ng's involvement with the top branch of the IOC. His term as IOC first vice-president and executive board member also came to an end yesterday, after back-to-back four- year terms. He will, however, remain an ordinary IOC member.

"Not being involved with the board will allow me more time to make proposals to the IOC on issues I feel strongly about," said Ng, who was honoured by out-going IOC president Jacques Rogge for his contribution to executive board at the end of the IOC Session in Buenos Aires.

"I still hope for the IOC to give the youth of the world a greater emphasis in the Olympic movement, as I have spoken about in my campaign. I will also push for the greater empowerment of IOC members."

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