Should Manny Pacquiao Bear the Philippine Flag at the Olympics?
Image details: Manny Pacquiao v David Diaz served by picapp.com
Boxer Manny Pacquiao, who recently won the WBC lightweight championship, has been appointed as a special envoy to next month’s Summer Olympics in Beijing. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally chose Pacquiao to be the flag-bearer for the Philippines during the Games’ opening ceremony. He is to replace swimmer Miguel Molina, who was named the Best Male Athlete in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, in the coveted role.
Pacquiao’s appointment, which occurred on Friday during a visit to Malacañang Palace, was approved almost immediately by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). However, he still needs accreditation from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games. There are several reasons why the appointment needs special approval from the Games’ organizers:
* The deadline for submission of participants passed on June 15, 2008.
* Pacquiao, as a professional boxer, will not compete in the Olympics. If approved, this will be the first time that the Philippine flag bearer won’t be a participating athlete.
* As a non-participant, Pacquiao has no authorization to enter the Athlete’s Village, where the athletes in the opening parade will come from.
I am of two minds regarding the appropriateness of Manny Pacquiao’s appointment as flag bearer. He won’t be the first professional athlete to perform this role. Yao Ming was already playing for the NBA’s Houston Rockets when he carried the Chinese flag at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Reports say that he will once again do the honors in Beijing. Tennis star Maria Sharapova is also reportedly performing the role for Russia. The difference between them and Pacquiao is that these two are Olympians. The POC and the President are allowed to choose whoever they want, and Manny Pacquiao has brought great honor to the Philippines with his accomplishments in boxing. However, is this enough?
Image details: 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 – Swimming served by picapp.com
To be picked as the Olympic flag bearer is a once-in-a-lifetime honor and a point of pride for the chosen athlete. While erstwhile flag bearer Miguel Molina has “gallantly stepped aside” for Pacquiao, I am sure he did not receive the news without disappointment. To have to give up the spot one month before the event, for a professional who is nevertheless a non-Olympian, would have been an unwelcome development to anyone.
The Olympics and the WBC are different arenas. Pacquiao has had his glory in the WBC. Is his star so bright that it should outshine the Filipino Olympians in their moment of glory?
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