Manny Pacquiao Says “Age is not a barrier” As He Wants to Achieve Olympic Dream
Filipino legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao claims “age is not a barrier” as he wanted to pursue his Olympic dream despite his age.
Filipino boxing legend and former Senator has reiterated his intention to participate in the Paris Olympics next year as a representative of the Philippines. This declaration comes in light of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) confirming that they have formally contacted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the eligibility of the eight-division world champion.
“I am grateful to the Philippine Olympic Committee, under the leadership of Abraham Tolentino, for making a recommendation to the IOC to process my eligibility to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
At the age of 44, Pacquiao remains hopeful about his prospects of competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the POC officially reached out to the IOC on his behalf, Pacquiao has initiated his campaign for inclusion in the Summer Games.
The POC initially disclosed in late August that Pacquiao had approached them with the idea of competing in the Paris Games. A month later, Pacquiao conveyed his excitement about this opportunity, emphasizing that representing the Philippines in the Olympics had been a dream of his since his teenage years.
Tolentino mentioned that they have already submitted a communication to the IOC regarding Pacquiao’s eligibility, with the aim of securing his qualification through the universality rule. In boxing, there are nine universality slots available, with five allocated for women and four for men.
The POC’s preferred route for Pacquiao is through these universality slots, as he has surpassed the age limit of 40 for Olympic qualifiers. Pacquiao firmly believes that age should not be viewed as a barrier to achieving one’s dreams. “I believe that age is not a barrier to fulfill our dreams,” said Pacquiao in a statement.
“A clear heart and mind always finds its way to realize our dreams. I believe it is not too late to fulfill my dream of bringing home a boxing gold medal from the Olympics for the Philippines,” he added.
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