Senior Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) govt Ng Ser Miang is going through scrutiny over potential conflicts of curiosity because the organisation prepares to pick out titles for its first Olympic Esports Video games in 2027.
Questions have emerged concerning Ng’s function as Chairman of the Olympic Esports Video games Steering Committee while his son holds monetary pursuits in Digital Taekwondo, a title anticipated to function on the Saudi Arabia occasion, in accordance with reporting by The Instances.
Authorized representatives for unnamed events inside Olympic circles have formally challenged the appointment, arguing it might compromise the choice course of for the landmark esports competitors.
Household Enterprise Connections
The controversy centres on Refract Applied sciences, a Singapore-based firm that co-developed Digital Taekwondo alongside World Taekwondo. Firm information point out Pearl Belief owns roughly a 3rd of Refract, with Ng Chong Geng — the IOC govt’s son — listed as Pearl Belief’s sole shareholder and a Refract director.
Moreover, Ng’s daughter Ng Xuan Hui holds a directorship at Pearl Belief, additional intertwining household pursuits with the digital actuality martial arts title.
London-based Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen LLP despatched formal correspondence to IOC’s Ethics Fee in June, with The Instances reporting the agency known as for Ng’s fast removing from esports-related committees. The authorized group represents shoppers who stay nameless, citing issues about potential backlash.
IOC Responds to Allegations
Responding to the allegations, the IOC maintains correct protocols had been adopted, with Ng finishing required disclosure documentation.
“All IOC Members fulfill their obligations concerning declarations of curiosity,” an IOC spokesperson informed The Instances, including that claims of impropriety had been ‘unfounded’ given current transparency mechanisms.
The organisation emphasises Ng’s appointment mirrored his established esports experience, with ultimate sport choices requiring approval from both the manager board or full IOC Session.
Present Video games in Olympics
Saudi Arabia’s 2027 occasion will award trophy-style honours moderately than conventional medals, specializing in titles linked to established Olympic sports activities. Based on the report, anticipated choices embrace biking simulators, crusing video games and motorsport titles alongside Digital Taekwondo.
The IOC’s strategy to esports has drawn criticism from trade observers who be aware that Olympic-endorsed digital sports activities usually lack the established aggressive ecosystems present in mainstream esports titles.
In contrast to video games resembling League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2 or VALORANT — which assist skilled leagues, substantial prize swimming pools and devoted participant bases — digital sports activities simulations usually function with out year-round aggressive circuits or skilled pathways for athletes, and don’t have any tangible viewer base.
