Manny Pacquiao will not be there in Paris. The Filipino boxing legend's request to participate in the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) was rejected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino announced on Sunday, February 18. .
Manila had sent a “special” request to the authority of Lausanne (Switzerland), in the fall of 2023, so that the former champion, aged 45, could come out of retirement and compete in the competition despite a rule setting the age limit for participants in Olympic boxing events at 40.
The Philippine committee hoped to give Manny Pacquiao access to one of the "universality places", meaning these are granted to athletes from countries who struggle to obtain places at the Games through normal qualification routes. There are nine for boxing – five for women and four for men.
“He could have secured a podium.”
The champion, who has never participated in the high mass of world sport, declared to Agence France-Presse in October 2023 that he was “not too old” to face younger rivals and that he felt like he was “30 or 28.” “It could have secured a podium or been the country’s first gold medal [in boxing],” regretted Mr. Tolentino, who however added that his committee had to “follow the rules established by the IOC.”
Manny Pacquiao has won numerous world titles in six different weight classes. He retired from professional boxing in 2021 to attempt, unsuccessfully, to become president of the Philippines.
