The 62-year-old former sailor, who was elected as a member of the IOC in 1998 and is currently one of the organisation's four vice-presidents, is seen as a serious contender to take over from the Belgian when his 12-year reign ends at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

"There has been a lot of speculation as to who will be the candidates," he told the TODAY newspaper in Singapore.

"I feel very honoured and privileged that my name has been mentioned.

"But this is obviously a very big decision...so I'm considering.

"I'll be talking to different friends and colleagues in the Olympic family before I make a decision.

"So I think it's still early yet." 

Speculation has been rife in Olympic circles for more than a year now about who will replace Rogge, with Ng's name increasingly mentioned as one of the main rivals to Germany's Thomas Bach, who is seen as the favourite but has yet to officially confirm he will stand.


Ng's stock within the Olympic Movement has risen since 2010 when he oversaw the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games, a key project of Rogge's which were held successfully in Singapore.

In the 118-year history of the IOC there has only ever been eight Presidents, with seven of them coming from Europe and the other one the United States. 

"To be IOC President is a privilege and honour but it's a huge responsibility," said Ng.

"It's a full-time job, so one has to consider the time, one also has to realistically consider one's capability and ability to lead a very important organisation."

Besides Bach, other candidates could include Richard Carrion, the Puerto Rican who is the chairman of the IOC Finance Commission, and Switzerland's Denis Oswald, who is head of the IOC Coordination Commission for London 2012. 

Candidates do not have to officially declare they are standing until three months before the election so it could still be some time before we know who is in the field.

C K Wu, the Taiwanese head of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), has also been mentioned as a potential contender.

But Olympic Council of Malaysia honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi believes that Asia would throw its support behind Ng.

"I am sure most of the Asian countries will give their support to Ser Miang," he said.

"It's time an Asian created history and takes over the Presidency of the IOC.

"In his own quiet way, Ser Miang has done so much for the Asian Olympic movement.

"He is a respected sports figure in Asia and other developing countries.

"He would be a worthy candidate to succeed Jacques Rogge."

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