|
THE chances of Manny Pacquiao being allowed to carry the Philippine
flag during the opening ceremonies of the forthcoming Beijing
Olympics are just getting better.
Monico Puentevella, chef de mission of the RP
Team to the Olympics, said the entry of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz to
the roster gives the country three additional slots for officials.
“In the Olympics, once the number of official
entries of a country reaches 15, that country is given three extra
slots for its officials. We can award one of those slots to
Manny,” he said.
“Then he becomes an official member of the RP
delegation. And all we have to do is ask the organizers if he can be
allowed to carry the flag,” added the POC vice president during
Tuesday’s Philippine Sports-writers’ Association Forum at
Shakey’s UN Avenue.
Puentevella, president of the RP weightlifting
association, said Diaz, bronze medalist in the 2007 SEA Games, will
go to Beijing as a wild card entry courtesy of the International
Weightlifting Federation.
This brings to 15 the number of Filipino
athletes to Beijing. The others are tae kwon do jins Tshomlee Go and
Antoinette Rivero, boxer Harry Tañamor, swimmers Miguel Molina,
Ryan Arabejo, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh and Kristel Simms, divers
Rexel Fabriga and Sheila Mae Perez, archer Mark Javier, shooter Eric
Ang and tricksters Marestella Torres and Henry Dagmil.
During the forum also sponsored by Accel,
Brickroad Gym and Aspen Spa, Puentevella once again commended Molina
for giving away to Pacquiao.
“He never hesitated when told that it was
Manny Pacquiao taking over. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience
for a young man like him to carry the flag in the Olympics but he
never hesitated,” he said.
Molina was named the Best Male Athlete of the
2007 SEA Games in Thailand where he won four gold medals.
Puentevella said they’re getting in touch with
Chinese Embassy officials in Manila.
“This is a late declaration because the
deadline was on April 15. But we will try everything to get him
accredited,” said Puentevalla.
“I’m sure Manny will get everyone cheering
for our athletes—especially the masses. Then maybe he can stay
there for a few days and watch our athletes.
|
