The International Olympic Committee (IOC) just turned down the request of the legendary Manny Pacquiao to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. It could have been a very symbolic Olympic year for the country seeing the boxing legend climb the squared arena in the Philippines' historic 100th anniversary of joining the Summer Games.
Let us move on. Let us accept that Pacquiao is no longer in the equation but as a disciple or follower of the sweet science, by way of the sport, we could finally get the most elusive medal. I believe that Eumir Marcial and the rest could get that for us.
What a historic achievement and feat it could have been for Pacquiao and the Philippines if the request was approved by the POC as we celebrate a century of our Olympic history in Paris this year. Our country first competed in the 1924 Games which were also held in Paris, the French capital.
In its letter to the Philippine Olympic Commission (POC), the IOC denied its request for Pacquiao to be exempted from the rule that sets the age limit for boxers at 40 years of age. The 8-division champ is now 45. The POC had requested a “universality” entry, an Olympic entry that is granted directly to countries based on having insufficient athletes in the games. After months of waiting, the request was denied.
Let us not forget that the opportunity to give the country its first-ever gold via the sweet science slipped through Pacquiaos’ fingers in 2016 for the Rio de Janeiro Games. He was offered by the POC to join but he declined due to his hectic official schedule as a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016.
As boxing fans, let us direct and throw all our prayers and wish Eumir Marcial and the rest of the boxers to finally get that century-old Olympic boxing gold right to complete our celebration of our 100 years in the Olympics.
I am positive that boxing is one of our surest ways to snatch that gold, hopefully this year.
Or whenever in the
post-Pacquaio era.
(Photo: Philippine
Olympics Committee)
No comments:
Post a Comment