MANNY Pacquiao is grateful to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for making a bid to include him in the boxing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
POC president Abraham Tolentino revealed on Sunday that they have already sent a letter asking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider giving Pacquiao a slot in the Olympics.
READ: Pacquiao wants shot at Olympic medal in Paris Games
Pacquiao will be 45 if he somehow gets the nod to represent the Philippines in the 2024 Olympics.
“I am grateful to the Philippine Olympic Committee under the leadership of Abraham Tolentino for making a recommendation to the IOC to process my eligibility to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games,” said Pacquiao in a statement.
READ: Wondering why Pacquiao never fought in Olympics?
“I believe that it is not too late to fulfill my dream of bringing home a boxing gold medal from the Olympics for the Philippines,” said Pacquiao.
Tolentino said he made the appeal to the IOC before leaving for Manila after the 19th Asian Games, asking that Pacquiao be given a ‘universality place’ in the boxing competitions.
The ‘universality place’ is given to ensure participation in as many countries as possible in the Olympics, while also promoting sports development and equal opportunities to smaller countries.
The POC is appealing for a ‘universality place,’ aware that Tolentino might not be given the nod through the usual procedures since the qualification tournaments are competed in by boxers aged 19 to 40.
Tolentino said there was one case before of a Pakistani athlete who competed in the Olympics at 41 years old.
He, however, admitted it will still be an uphill battle since several more countries are appealing for universality places.
“Bago ako umalis ng Hangzhou, October talaga ang pag-submit ng appeal. We just emailed IOC on that issue if he will be allowed to be one of the universality [place recipients],” said Tolentino.
“Over 40 pero merong four male or five or six females na universality [recipients] pero maglalaban diyan 120 countries,” said Tolentino.
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