International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Ser Miang Ng, who on Thursday became the second candidate in the race to succeed current IOC President Jacques Rogge, plans to send his manifesto to his fellow members without delay.
Even as he was making his official announcement at The Sorbonne in Paris, the critical words that spell out his vision of the Olympic movement over the next several years were landing in a hundred inboxes across the globe.
“We need to place Youth at the centre of the Olympic movement,” said Ng, the Chair of the first Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore in 2010.
This statement neatly sums up what will likely be the framework of his candidacy, one that builds upon Rogge’s vision and legacy during his twelve years in office. The Youth Olympic Games are Rogge’s brainchild.
In an exclusive interview with GamesBids.com following his announcement, Ng also proposed to reinforce an original concept of the Youth Olympics and award hosting opportunities to smaller cities that don’t have the scale to support a mainstream Games.
He is also behind the IOC President’s ideal that the Games should visit each continent, including Africa.
“I believe it is, for the Games to be universal; it has to go to all continents,” he told GamesBids.com.
“I believe I will be watching and taking part in a Games in Africa in my lifetime.
“The IOC should do more to help…the IOC should be more involved and more engaged.
“Personally I think that’s a good idea, to help to bring the development process, leading to one day for one of the cities in Africa to bid for the Games.”
But around the site selection process, Ng wants to lead change.
“We must work together to review the size and cost of the Games…as well as the sports programme…to ensure a healthy and vibrant Olympic Movement in the future.
“Managing the costs of the bid, the process, plus the size and the costs, will become necessary.”
He said his manifesto has provided more details on how he plans to manage this.
He is also concerned with the current rule that forbids individual IOC member visits to bid cities for evaluation purposes, an ethics regulation implemented early in Rogge’s Presidency to combat corruption.
“I personally have some ideas, Ng said, “…we need to sit down with members to really go through this.
“Because of my belief of involving the members in discussion and decision of major issues.”
If elected, Ng pledges to become a “full-time volunteer”, serving without pay as Rogge has done.
IOC members have until June 10th to submit their candidacies. The final election will be held September 10 at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires.
