IOC RED LIGHTS PH APPEAL TO HAVE PACQUIAO BOX IN PARIS

For all of Manny Pacquiao’s accomplishments in life and atop the boxing ring, thrilling crowds in the Olympics is one thing that will never happen.

This, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shut the door on the former eight-division world professional champion’s bid to fight for the in the 2024 Paris Olympics, something that Pacquiao desired as early as last year when he filed an appeal to be a special exempt.

In response to a letter from the Philippine Olympic Committee, the IOC put its foot down on Pacquiao’s appeal by simply stating that the Filipino ring idol is way past the age limit allowed for quadrennial Summer Games.

“Too bad our beloved boxing icon is disqualified because of his age,” POC president Bambol Tolentino said after receiving the reply from the IOC. “(Another reason is that) everyone needs to go through the qualifiers, in all sports, to be able to participate in Paris.’’

The 45-year-old Pacquiao appealed to relax the 40-year-old age limit in the Olympics last year. James McLeod, IOC Director for National Olympic Committee Relations, wrote the POC of the world governing body’s decision.

“The only valid boxing qualification system for Paris 2024 is the one approved by the IOC Executive Board in September 2022, published and distributed to NOCs (national Olympic committees) and boxing national federations on 6 December 2022,’’ McLeod said in his letter.

The former senator likewise didn’t pass the grade in the IOC’s universality rule.

“The universality places for the Olympic Games will not be allocated to NOCs with an average of more that eight athletes in individual sports/ disciplines at the last two editions of the Olympic Games (Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo),’’ added Mcleod.

Team Philippines brought 17 athletes to Tokyo, all of whom competed in individual sports. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo captured the first Olympic gold for the country back then while boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio claimed the silver.