International Olympic Committee defends Ng Ser Miang amid allegations over conflicts of interest

Straits Times

17 hours ago

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A report by German investigative news outlet Sport & Politics on Aug 12 alleged Ng to have 'mixed his many positions with family business in several respects in connection with esports, the Olympic Esports Week and the Olympic Esports Games'.
SINGAPORE – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its member and former vice-president Ng Ser Miang following allegations of potential conflicts of interest in e-sports initiatives and related business activities.
The defence comes in response to a complaint reported by German investigative news outlet Sport & Politics on Aug 12, alleging the veteran sports administrator to have 'mixed his many positions with family business in several respects in connection with e-sports, the Olympic Esports Week and the Olympic Esports Games'.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, an IOC spokesperson said: 'For many years, all IOC members have been required to declare their interests in companies, sports organisations and not-for-profit entities. This is to avoid any actual or perceived risk of conflict of interest when the IOC engages with any third party.
'Mr Ser Miang Ng, like all IOC members, has fulfilled his obligations. Therefore, the allegations made in this complaint are unfounded. There is no basis whatsoever to these claims, since there is full transparency through the IOC Declaration of Interests Form.'
The report by Sport & Politics detailed a complaint submitted to the IOC Ethics Commission against the 76-year-old, who has been an IOC member since 1998 and served two terms as vice-president from 2009 to 2013 and 2020 to 2024.
Filed on June 26 by London law firm Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen on behalf of a client whose identity was not disclosed, it alleges that Ng used his multiple positions within Olympic and e-sports committees, as well as national and international sporting federations, to influence the selection of e-sports games for upcoming Olympic events.
It highlighted the inclusion of virtual taekwondo at the Olympic Esports Week held in June 2023 in Singapore, noting the game was made and owned by Refract Technologies, where Ng's son Chong Geng serves as a director.
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The complaint also referenced a now-discontinued game by the company, a virtual version of archery called Tic Tac Bow, which also featured at the event.
The IOC spokesperson stressed that Ng had not been directly involved in the development of e-sports with the organisation until recently, elaborating that the process has been led by the IOC Esports Commission, of which he has never been a member.
The Esports Commission oversaw the Olympic Virtual Series 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series 2023, which culminated in the Olympic Esports Week (OEW) in Singapore.
The IOC spokesperson said: 'All the key decisions regarding the Olympic Virtual Series 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series 2023, including the selection of the game titles, were taken by the IOC Executive Board (EB) based on proposals from the Olympic Esports Commission and in cooperation with the relevant IOC departments.'
The complaint also noted Ng's role in the establishment of the Olympic Esports Games, with the inaugural edition to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027.
Ng chairs a six-member steering committee for the event, which has been set up to define which games will be part of the maiden Esports Olympics.
The IOC spokesperson said: 'Recently, Mr Ng was appointed as chair of a joint committee of the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) to steer the Olympic Esports Games, precisely because his expertise was fully known and appreciated.
'His connections to the industry were declared in full transparency in the IOC Declaration of Interests Form. While the steering committee is working to prepare the decision on which games will be included in the Olympic Esports Games, the final decision will be made by the IOC EB and/or the IOC Session.'
Stressing that the organisation has 'full confidence' in Ng to further develop the Olympic Esports Project, the spokesperson added: 'The IOC confirms that IOC Member Mr Ser Miang Ng has acted in full conformity with the Olympic Charter, and there is no evidence to prove the contrary.'
ST has contacted Ng and the Global Esports Federation for comment.
Ng, who has worn many hats in various sporting bodies, was fined €1,000 (S$1,400) in 2023 and served with an official warning after being found guilty of interfering in a World Sailing election.
The governing body said that Ng, who was vice-president of the International Sailing Federation (World Sailing's predecessor) from 1994 to 1998, and former World Sailing Ethics Commission chairman Dieter Neupert had been found guilty of failing to act with integrity and interfering in the 2020 election.
But Ng told ST then that he rejects any allegations and sanctions made against him by World Sailing.