Ng Announces Candidacy for IOC Presidency; Manifesto Pledges

(ATR) Ser Miang Ng tells Around the Rings his passion for sport and commitment to the Olympic Movement make him a good choice to succeed Jacques Rogge as the next IOC president.

The Singaporean IOC vice president announced his candidacy to replace the outgoing Rogge at the Sorbonne in Paris on Thursday.

"I believe I have the experience both as a sports leader, diplomat and businessman," he told ATR of his bid to become the first Asian to head the IOC.

The 64-year-old sent a letter confirming his candidacy and his manifesto to IOC members this morning.

"I believe it is a challenging time. We need to empower the members more who want to be more actively involved in the IOC and movement," he said to ATR regarding his campaign message.

"We need to unify the Olympic Movement. We need to have strong working relationships while respecting the autonomy of the IFs and NOCs," he added.

"We should be working with governments, building a symbiotic relationship, and reaching out to the grassroots [of sport]."

Asked what he considered the major challenges facing the incoming IOC president, who will be elected as the Session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 10, he highlighted three areas: a bigger focus on youth; consolidation of the fight against doping, match-fixing and illegal betting; and, "in economically challenging times", reviewing the size and cost of the Olympic Games and the costs of bidding for it.

Chinese Taipei’s C.K. Wu, the head of the International Boxing Association, yesterday told ATR he will announce his candidature for the IOC presidency on May 23, a move that threatens to split the Asian vote.

But Ng told ATR he had consulted IOC members from across the world over the past year before deciding to run for the top job in world sport’s administration.

"I think it is good to have strong competition," he said of Wu’s plans to join the race.

"This will also bring out the best in the candidates."

At his press conference in the Sorbonne, Paris – a venue selectedfor its symbolism as the venue for the first IOC Session in 1894 – Ng confirmed he would not take a salary if elected as IOC president and committed to working full-time in Lausanne.

In a 20-minute presentation of his manifesto, he praised the achievements of Rogge and his predecessors and put special emphasis on the need to put youth at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

"I believe we can do more and that we must do more. We must harness the collective power of Olympism for the youth of the world," said Ng, who headed the organizing committee which staged a successful first edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010.

An IOC member since 1998, Ng did not style himself asan Asian candidate.

"I am proud to be an Asian but I am also proud to be a global citizen. It gives me a unique perspective as an IOC member," he told the news conference.

"The Olympic Movement faces an increasingly interconnected world. This will require a leader with an inclusive leadership style and worldview but with collective input and decision-making, and a leader who can empower the Olympic Movement with a unified vision," he said.

He added: "I humbly believe that I have the experience and consensus-building and understanding of the Olympic Movement and a deep passion for Olympism."

Responding to a reporter’s question, Ng said: "I think it is time for an Asian president but the IOC president runs a global organization."

Asked what impact his IOC presidency might have on Asian sport if he won the election in September, the Singaporean said he would ensure the IOC would have a "greater impact" on sport in Asia.

Ng today joined Germany’s Thomas Bach in the race to succeed Rogge. Wu is set to declare his candidacy next week, with Puerto Rico’s Richard Carrion and Switzerland’s Denis Oswald are also tipped to join the contest before the June 10 deadline.

Reported by Mark Bisson.

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