Can one man change the shape of the Olympic Games? Ng Ser Miang, the Singaporean candidate for IOC presidency, believes so. And he says it. His objective, if he is elected on September 10 by his peers in the Olympic institution: to reduce the size, and even more the cost, of the Games.
The Asian had explained it to FrancsJeux, during an interview posted online on July 18. He repeated and confirmed it earlier this week to the Reuters agency: “It is time for us (at the IOC) to look at the size, cost, scale and complexity of the Games. » A reflection that Ng Ser Miang intends to extend to the very process of city applications, to reduce the cost. “We need to think about making an application more affordable and more respectful of the cities themselves. »
The speech is not new. It's not really original. The German Thomas Bach, another candidate to succeed Jacques Rogge, considered by many to be the favorite of the race, also advocates a return to more moderation. But Ng Ser Miang makes it his priority.
Problem: How to reduce the size of the Games when the sports queue to get in keeps getting longer? Golf and rugby sevens will be introduced in Rio in 7 in the Olympic setting. Wrestling, baseball/softball and karate were invited there four years later. The Singaporean has his idea: reduce the number of disciplines in each sport. In short, carry out a form of selective sorting, by requiring international federations to cut their own programs. Elementary.
Another idea from Ng Ser Miang: use the Youth Olympic Games as a sort of laboratory for sports that are candidates for the Olympic label. Having organized the first version of this event, in Singapore in 2010, the former Chinese knows its attractions and the model. And he intends, if elected, to play the youth and innovation card to the fullest.
According to him, it would be less expensive to test future Olympic disciplines in the more open context of the Youth Games, rather than during endless and expensive lobbying campaigns. “In Singapore, in 2010, we were able to try 3-on-3 basketball and the mixed team formula in certain disciplines,” he explains.
His rivals have been warned: Ng Ser Miang is not just running for the presidential seat for his ego or business card. The former diplomat wants to change the future of the Games. Smaller, cheaper, but still stronger.
