Manny Pacquiao won't be able to showcase his legendary ring skills at the Paris Olympics primarily because he is over the age limit.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) responded to a letter from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from last year, which appealed for Pacquiao's participation in Paris. The IOC emphasized the age limit of 40 for athletes in the Olympics, and Pacquiao is already 45 years old.
If Pacquiao had met the age regulation, he would have needed to go through qualifiers to have a chance at the Olympics. One of these qualifiers was last year's Asian Games, where Eumir Felix Marcial won silver in the light heavyweight category.
POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino expressed disappointment at Pacquiao's disqualification, stating that all athletes in all sports must go through qualifiers to participate in Paris.
James McLeod, the IOC Director for National Olympic Committee Relations, responded to the POC's request for Pacquiao to be able to box in Paris. McLeod stated that the only valid boxing qualification system for Paris 2024 is the one approved by the IOC Executive Board in September 2022. This system includes the age limit of 40.
Unfortunately, Pacquiao also couldn't qualify for Paris under the Universality rule.
McLeod explained that the Universality places for the Olympic Games will not be allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that had more than eight athletes in individual sports/disciplines in the last two editions of the Olympic Games (Rio and Tokyo). The Philippines had 17 athletes in Tokyo, all competing in individual sports.
In Tokyo, Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo won the country's first Olympic gold medal, while Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio won silver medals. Marcial also achieved a silver medal.
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