The 64-year-old former sailor, currently one of the four IOC vice-presidents, is considered one of the leading contenders to take over from the Belgian when his 12-year reign ends at the 125th Session in Buenos Aires in September this year.

Ng has received particular plaudits for helping Rogge set up the Youth Olympic Games as he served as President of the Organising Committee at the inaugural event in his native Singapore in 2010 but he admits that the current IOC President will be a tough act to follow for whoever is elected as his successor.

"The next President faces a difficult task to continue to build on the strong legacy of President Rogge and what he has done," Ng told insidethegames.

"He has left the Olympic Movement in a strong position since taking over from Juan Antonio Samaranch and he has done great things.

"The new IOC President must carry on his fight against doping in sport and his fight against illegal betting in sport

"They must also build on his creation of the Youth Olympic Games.

"So it is definitely going to be a very daunting challenge to follow him and the new President must be prepared for the task."

No IOC members have officially declared their candidacy yet and will not have to do so until next month, when they will then become bound by the stringent ethical codes governing IOC election campaigning.

Ng, who has been an IOC member since 1998 and vice-president since 2009, has a particularly strong powerbase amongst the Asian IOC membership and is therefore likely to enter the race as one of the favourites.

The other IOC members currently considered most likely to move for the position are Germany's Thomas Bach, Puerto Rico's Richard Carrion, Ukraine's Sergey Bubka and C K Wu of Taiwan.

Ng claimed that with the election now looming large, he is honoured that he is being talked about for the role but not at all surprised that the vast majority of IOC members are discussing the issue.

"I'm very flattered and humbled by the view of several of my IOC colleagues that I could fulfil this role," he said.

"This is a very important year for the IOC and I have mentioned before that the election of a new President is a crucial one.

"It is especially important in this rapidly changing world where we are facing different problems and challenges, especially with the youth.

"The Olympic Movement has the power to help address these problems and the new President will be crucial in leading the direction we take as we move forwards.

"So the election will be very important and it only natural that we all discussing it at this stage."

The new IOC President is due to be elected on September 10 in Buenos Aires and should Ng be elected, he would become only the second non-European to lead the organisation after Avery Brundage of the United States, who was in charge from 1952 to 1972.

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