|
MANILA,
July 5 (PNA) -– Malacanang has named Asia's first four world-time
boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as Philippine team flag bearer in the
2008 Beijing Olympics Games slated on Aug. 8-24.
Executive
Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita made the announcement on Friday during
Pacquiao's courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in
Malacanang.
Pacquiao
returned home early Friday morning a week after he wrested the World
Boxing Council (WBC) crown from Mexican David Diaz in a fashionable 9th
round knock out.
He was accompanied by his wife Jinkee and some friends.
Pacquiao arrived this morning from Los Angeles.
During
a press conference, Pacquiao said he would donate P3 million to victims
of typhoon Frank and initiate a calamity fund drive. He would also
visit the typhoon-ravaged areas, including Romblon.
Before
going to Malacanang, the Pacquiao entourage attended a first Friday
Mass at Quiapo church, creating heavy traffic as fans tried to get a
glimpse of the first Filipino to win the world lightweight diadem.
Pacquiao
was a former WBC flyweight title holder, IBF/WBO bantamweight champion
and reigning WBC super featherweight king when he knocked out Diaz.
With
the retirement of undefeated Floyd Mayweather, The Ring Magazine has
crowned Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Philippine
Olympic Committee (POC) spokesman Joey Romansanta welcomed the
development, adding the POC executive board will convene immediately to
discuss Pacquiao's appointment.
However,
wushu president Julian Camacho doubted if the Beijing Olympic
organizing committee would allow a non-athlete participant to carry the
national flag during the opening rites.
”I
don't think so. I don't think it will be allowed by the organizing
committee,” said Camacho, who will leave on July 29 to represent the
Philippine team chief of mission Monico Puentevella in a meeting in
Beijing.
Camacho,
however, said the appointment of Pacquiao was “a great development
considering he is now the most popular boxer not only in Asia but
throughout the world.”
The
POC has already appointed swimmer Miguel Molina as flag bearer of the
RP team which will be represented by 15 athletes from seven different
sports.
Molina
was the best male athlete of the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games
where he won three individual gold medals and another in team event.
Aside
from Molina, the Olympic-bound local athletes include boxer Harry
Tanamor; swimmer Daniel Coakley, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo and Christel
Simms; divers Shiela Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga; archer Mark
Javier; shooter Eric Ang; taekwndo jins Toni Rivero and Tshomlee Go;
Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres of athletics; and weightlifter
Hidilyn Diaz. (PNA)
|
