19 –Innsbruck Youth Olympics Chief
Innsbruck 2012 CEO Peter Bayer has done the hard work over the last few years, learning from the successful Singapore YOG and winter sports federations as the Austrian city prepares to stage the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games. With everything in place, it now falls to him to deliver a spectacular and memorable Games that gains positive headlines globally.
Supported by Austrian Olympic Committee president Karl Stoss and AOC secretary general Peter Mennel, Bayer is confident that the 1,000-plus athletes aged 15 through 18 drawn from more than 65 countries will be impressed by the facilities and given a sporting experience to remember. Of particular interest for the IOC and Sochi 2014 observers is the organization and popularity of ski halfpipe, snowboard slopestyle and women’s ski jumping – events among the 63 that are featuring for the first time at any Olympics. Bayer shoulders responsibility for ensuring the formats and scheduling for these events run according to plan.
With the clock counting down to the Jan. 13-22 Games, Bayer has little time to enjoy the festive period. The 2012 YOG torch relay starts Dec. 27, the flame then arriving in Bergisel Stadium 18 days later for the opening of the Games.
Last year's ranking: none
20 –Ser Miang Ng, IOC Member from Singapore
Ser Miang Ng is a senior figure among IOC members from Asia, serving as a vice president on the Executive Board. His calm, even-handed style is a mark of his diplomatic background.
His stature was boosted in 2010 with the successful staging of the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, which he chaired.
Now 62, Ng can remain an IOC member for 18 more years, which means a return to the EB seems likely. He is mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed Jacques Rogge as IOC President in 2013. Ng says he is not in the running to seek the presidency of Singapore.
Ng was named the IOC representative to coordinate its response to the tsunami disaster in Japan earlier this year. He holds other key commission assignments, including seats on audit, finance and the London 2012 Coordination Commission.
Last year's ranking: none
Click here for more about ATR's Golden 25 and here to view the Golden 25 for past years.
Written by Ed Hula and Mark Bisson.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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