RIO DE JANEIRO – Ng Ser Miang, the former sailor athlete – who played a key role in bringing IOC events such as the IOC Session in 2005 and the inaugural 2012 Youth Olympic Games – was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board on Thursday morning (4 August) in Rio de Janeiro.
Mr Ng who has also served as the IOC’s vice-president from 2009 to 2013 returns to the 15-member executive board, the highest decision-making body in the Lausanne-based organisation.
“It is an honour and privilege to be back serving on the IOC executive board. I will continue to serve sport internationally and in Singapore,” said Mr Ng, who is in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics.
“I look forward to seeing more Singaporeans contributing to international sport organisations. In the meantime, I will be cheering (on) our Olympians in Rio and look forward to them flying our flag high.”
One of Mr Ng’s major achievements while serving in the IOC was helping Singapore win the bid to host the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games and he has served as chairman of the inaugural Asian Youth Games Steering Committee.
Diminishing to his popularity is the increase of the operating costs of the inaugural Games to thrice the original amount, which was attributed to major revisions in the scope and scale of the Games. Costs were increased for logistics and transport, security, and upgrades of various sports venues and especially technology.
Concerns over cost overruns were dismissed by SYOGOC Chairman Ng Ser Miang.
The cost overruns has become an issue that was raised by opposition parties during Singapore’s 2011 general elections.
