Rio Olympics 2016

Ng elected to IOC exec board again

Singaporean says he is now more experienced and understands the way in which the IOC functions

"Finance is linked to many aspects of the IOC's work, so it'll be good to be involved in (the board)," said Ng Ser Miang after he made his return to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.
"Finance is linked to many aspects of the IOC's work, so it'll be good to be involved in (the board)," said Ng Ser Miang after he made his return to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO

Almost three years after he stepped down from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Executive Board, Ng Ser Miang is back in the inner circles of the Olympic rings.

He was one of nine seeking seven available spots on the committee's Executive Board yesterday morning. The 67-year-old Singaporean was elected by secret ballot in one of the final proceedings of the 129th IOC Session.

The 15-man Executive Board, made up of the IOC president, four vice-presidents and 10 IOC members, is the authoritative power of the organisation, responsible for making its most important decisions.

Among the seven elected yesterday were Ukraine's former world and Olympic champion pole vaulter Sergey Bubka and Chinese Taipei's Wu Ching-kuo, president of the International Boxing Association.

Speaking to The Straits Times at the Windsor Oceanico Hotel's convention centre, Ng said he was persuaded to make a run for the Executive Board again by several IOC colleagues. Their support was evident, with many approaching Ng to congratulate him on his election.

Said Ng: "Going back to the Executive Board the second time round, I'm more experienced and I know the work of the IOC more."

Ng is no stranger to the upper echelon of the IOC. He was the first man from South-east Asia to be elected to the Executive Board in 2005, before stepping down in September 2013 after serving the maximum of two four-year terms.

He was also the first from the region to be elected vice-president of the IOC, serving as its first vice-president from 2009 to 2013.

He made a bold run for IOC presidency in 2013 when a record six-man field made their bid to replace Jacques Rogge, but lost out to Germany's Thomas Bach.

Even after stepping down from the board, Ng continued to play a key role in the IOC when he was appointed its chair of finance commission in 2014. He took charge of managing and growing the IOC's large financial reserves - a figure that is close to $1 billion.

He was eligible for re-election to the board after sitting out for two years and will remain as the chief of the finance commission.

"Finance is linked to many aspects of the IOC's work, so it'll be good to be involved in (the board)," said Ng, who added he remains committed to serving in sport both internationally and in Singapore.

He has played an important role in bringing some of the IOC's biggest events to the Republic.

This includes the IOC session in 2005, where London was chosen as host city for the 2012 Olympics. The Republic also hosted the inaugural edition of the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 05, 2016, with the headline Ng elected to IOC exec board again. Subscribe