Chaos rising for World Sailing election

Held every four years, the election for World Sailing president is often a congenial occasion that rarely gets much column inch in Scuttlebutt. However, during this past term, there are some world-class sh#t stirrers inciting discontent, which predictably has created chaos for the upcoming election.

Not unlike the peaceful social justice protests which get derailed by rioters with their own agenda, there is massive self-interest amid the election noise, and it is shocking to see industry leaders providing oxygen to their voices. Rant over… here’s an update:

► It has come to the attention of World Sailing that Mr. Ser Miang Ng, IOC Member from Singapore and member of World Sailing Ethics Commission, has been interfering in the internal elections and politics of World Sailing. These actions are deemed unacceptable and condemned by World Sailing.

For an individual to misuse their position in order to intervene in the election and politics of an autonomous International Federation goes against all good governance practices.

In discussions and reference statement by the IOC and ASOIF, World Sailing understands that these actions were taken by the individual alone and do not reflect the views of the IOC or the Olympic Movement.

World Sailing prides itself on being an open and transparent organisation, one with well governed processes that are in line with ASOIF and IOC guidelines. The actions by this individual are an attempt to compromise the World Sailing Election Committee and the elections themselves.

► World Sailing President Kim Andersen has accused Ng Ser Miang of actively trying to oust him from the position by supporting rival candidate Gerardo Seeliger in an ethics complaint filed against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president.

Andersen, through the British law firm Mills & Reeve, has also submitted a formal complaint to the World Sailing Ethics Commission against the group’s acting chairman Dieter Neupert.

In the complaint, seen by insidethegames, Andersen has alleged Ser Miang – a former sailor who also sits on the World Sailing Ethics Commission – and Neupert have committed “gross violations” of the ethics code.

It marks the latest development in an increasingly bitter Presidential election, where Andersen is being challenged by Seeliger and World Sailing vice-presidents Scott Perry and Quanhai Li, prior to voting starting on Friday (October 9). Full report.