Recent internal IOC documents have reopened an uncomfortable debate in Lausanne over the conflict of interest surrounding veteran member Ser Miang Ng (1949, Singapore) and his influence on the path toward the future Olympic Esports Games. Minutes leaked to ‘The Inquisitor’ suggest that Ng pushed for the inclusion of Virtual Taekwondo, a video game developed by companies linked to his children, within the Olympic digital ecosystem.
Ng holds senior positions within the Olympic structure and in institutions connected to taekwondo, while his family maintains interests in companies such as Refract Technologies and Pearl Trust, both of which have benefitted from decisions related to esports. This overlap of responsibilities has intensified the pressure on the IOC, whose official response—limited to denying the accusations without providing documentation—has failed to quell the controversy.
A blow to internal credibility
The release of these minutes has caused unease within the Olympic movement. Members of several federations privately acknowledge that the case raises doubts about the esports project. The complaint submitted by a London law firm included extensive documentation that does not appear to have been thoroughly reviewed before being dismissed. This decision has reinforced the sense of opacity at a time when the IOC was expected to strengthen its credibility through the launch of the Olympic Esports Games.
The economic impact has added further tension. Reports point to a financial hole of nearly 20 million dollars and the loss of the Saudi sponsorship initially intended to support the new Esports Olympic Games. In parallel, Ng is reportedly promoting the creation of a new international esports federation, a move analysts interpret as an attempt to maintain influence in a business widely questioned for its management practices.
This situation has generated concern among various actors in international sport, who fear that this drift could jeopardise the integration of esports into the Olympic movement. The challenge is not only financial but also institutional, especially in a sector that demands stable structures, clear rules and recognisable governance.
The contrast with other regulated structures
In this context, the role of Vlad Marinescu, president of the International Esports Federation (IESF), stands out. He has spent years trying to provide the esports ecosystem with solid regulatory foundations. His work has prioritised integrity standards, governance mechanisms and a federative model capable of preventing precisely the kind of situations where private interests become intertwined with public roles.
The comparison between both models has revived the debate on what kind of structure the digital ecosystem truly needs if it is to become part of the Olympic programme with guarantees. And, above all, who should lead that process at such a critical moment for the digital Olympic movement.
