IOC clears Ng Ser Miang of conflict-of-interest allegations over esports involvement

SINGAPORE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that Ng Ser Miang acted in full accordance with its rules, rejecting allegations of conflict of interest concerning his involvement in esports-related activities and family business interests.

The IOC’s response came after a report by Sport & Politics, a German news website, claimed that a complaint had been filed with the IOC Ethics Commission against Ng.

The report alleged that Ng had “mixed his many positions with family business in several respects” in connection with the Olympic Esports Week and the upcoming Olympic Esports Games.

In response to queries from CNA, the IOC confirmed that its Ethics Commission had reviewed the matter and concluded that Ng was in full conformity with the Olympic Charter.

“There is no evidence to prove the contrary,” said an IOC spokesperson, adding that Ng retains the “full confidence” of the organisation in his role developing the Olympic Esports Games.

IOC defends Ng’s appointment and transparency measures

The IOC clarified that Ng had not been directly involved in the development of esports initiatives within the organisation until recently. Those projects, including the Olympic Virtual Series 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series 2023, were led by the IOC Esports Commission, of which Ng was never a member.

The Olympic Esports Week in 2023, held in Singapore, was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC).

While Ng co-chaired the event’s steering committee alongside the responsible minister, he was not part of the organising committee. Major decisions, such as the selection of game titles, were made by the IOC Executive Board based on proposals from the Esports Commission and other departments.

Ng was recently appointed to co-chair a joint steering committee between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), which will oversee preparations for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh in 2027.

The IOC said his appointment was based on his recognised expertise and that all relevant business interests had been fully declared through the IOC Declaration of Interests Form.

“There is no basis whatsoever to these claims, since there is full transparency through the IOC Declaration of Interests Form,” the spokesperson said.

SNOC declines to comment on complaint details

In response to media queries, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) said it was not in a position to comment on the IOC Ethics Commission’s internal processes or any complaint that may have been lodged.

“We have no information regarding the report in question and are therefore unable to confirm its accuracy or the nature of the alleged complaint,” the SNOC said in a statement.

CNA also reported that it had reached out to Ng and the Global Esports Federation for comment.

Background and past disciplinary action

The latest allegation follows an earlier disciplinary case involving Ng. In January 2023, he was fined €1,000 (US$1,165) and issued an official warning after being found guilty of interfering in a World Sailing election.

Ng and Dieter Neupert, then chair of the World Sailing Ethics Commission, were found to have breached integrity standards by attempting to influence the election outcome.

Ng, who served as vice-president of the International Sailing Federation (now World Sailing) between 1994 and 1998, has been a member of the IOC since 1998 and held two vice-presidential terms — from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2020 to 2024.

Domestically, he served as vice president of the SNOC from 1990 to 2014 and currently chairs its Games Appeals Committee and Finance Committee. He also sits on the Singapore Sports Awards Selection Committee.

Despite previous controversies, the IOC’s latest review concluded that Ng acted appropriately and within established ethical frameworks, reaffirming his continued role in leading the organisation’s esports initiatives.