JAKARTA - President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Abraham Tolentino has sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to fight for Manny Pacquiao to appear at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The letter was sent two weeks ago so eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who is currently 44 years old, is now just waiting for a decision from the IOC.
This special request from the Philippines to the IOC is so that Pacquiao can appear in boxing at next year's Paris Olympics even though the Filipino star has exceeded the age limit.
If approved then Pacquiao will get a ticket for a universal place. A universal place is given to athletes from countries struggling to get a place in the Olympics through normal qualifying channels.
There are nine universal places for boxing in Paris next year. The details are five for women and four for men.
Tolentino said that Pacquiao's chances of getting tickets were big because the boxer was still physically fit. "[Pacquiao] is physically healthy, better than any other athlete," Tolentino told AFP.
Tolentino explained that if Pacquiao got approval from the IOC then it would not at all thwart another Filipino boxer's chance to qualify for Paris next year.
Pacquiao, the only boxer in boxing history to win a world title in eight classes, has always dreamed of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
Pacquiao recently revealed that he had tried to join a squad of boxers who represented the Philippines at the Olympics when he was still a young amateur boxer. However, the coaches felt Pacquiao wasn't good enough at the time.
Pacquiao retired from boxing in 2021 after losing points in twelve rounds from Yordenis Ugas. He then ran for president of the Philippines but lost.
Since 2016, Olympic rules have allowed professional boxers to compete in the Olympics. This is a significant change in Olympic policy, which previously only allowed amateur boxers to participate.
This rule provides an opportunity for professional boxers to compete in the Olympics, provided they meet some of the criteria set by the Olympic boxing body, called the International Boxing Association. Some of the criteria that must be met by professional boxers who want to participate in the Olympics include:
Time in professional careers: Professional boxers who want to participate in the Olympics must ensure that they have retired from their professional careers for at least three years before participating in the Olympics.
Approval from the national boxing body: Professional boxers must ensure that their national boxing body supports their participation in the Olympics.
Limit on the number of professional matches: There is also a limit on the number of professional matches allowed for boxers who want to participate in the Olympics. This varies depending on the boxer's heavy category.
Citizens: Professional boxers who want to participate in the Olympics must meet the citizenship requirements set by the national boxing body and Olympic rules.
Currently, professional boxers who meet these criteria can enter Olympic qualifiers and compete with amateur boxers. However, they must meet all applicable requirements and get approval from their national boxing body.
Keep in mind that this rule applies specifically to boxing and may differ for other sports in the Olympics. Each sport has its own rules regarding the participation of professional boxers.
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