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Filipino politician and former professional boxer Manny Pacquiao waves to reporters upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, October 10, 2022. EPA-EFE/YONHAP

epa10234283 Filipino politician and former professional boxer Manny Pacquiao waves to reporters upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, 10 October 2022.  EPA-EFE/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT

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Manny Pacquiao arrival in South Korea

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/021824_Manny Pacquiao_EPA.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino politician and former professional boxer Manny Pacquiao waves to reporters upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, October 10, 2022. <em><strong>EPA-EFE/YONHAP</strong></em></span></span></span>MANILA -- The International Olympic Committee has denied Manny Pacquiao&#x27;s bid to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, as he is beyond the age limit.</div><p>This, according to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). </p><p>Responding to a letter from the POC appealing for Pacquiao to compete in Paris, the IOC stressed on the 40-year-old age limit for athletes participating in the Olympics. Pacquiao turned 45 last December 17. </p><p>Moreover, even if Pacquiao met the age regulation, he will still have to go through the qualifiers in order to see action in the Summer Games.</p><p>&quot;Too bad our beloved boxing icon is disqualified because of his age and that everyone needs to go through qualifiers, in all sports, to be able to participate in Paris,&quot; POC President Abraham &quot;Bambol&quot; Tolentino said of Pacquiao&#x27;s bid. </p><p>The POC first revealed in August 2023 that Pacquiao&#x27;s camp has reached out to them, seeking a path for the &quot;Pacman&quot; to represent the country in the Paris Olympics.</p><p>Pacquiao later reiterated his desire to compete in the Summer Games, admitting that becoming a part of the national boxing team had been one of his dreams.</p><p>The POC formalized Pacquiao&#x27;s bid in October, when they wrote a letter of request to the IOC to process the boxer&#x27;s eligibility via the universality rule.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/30/23/pacquiao-eyes-ticket-to-paris-olympics-poc-confirms">READ: Pacquiao seeks chance to fight in Paris Olympics, POC confirms</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/15/23/pacquiao-reiterates-desire-to-join-paris-olympics">READ: Pacquiao reiterates desire to join Paris Olympics</a></div><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/09/23/poc-formalizes-request-for-pacquiaos-olympic-bid">READ: POC formalizes request for Pacquiao&#x27;s Olympic bid</a></div><p>Unfortunately for Pacquiao, the IOC will not waive its age limit.</p><p>&quot;The only valid boxing qualification system for Paris 2024 is the one approved by the IOC Executive Board in September 2022 published and distributed to NOCs and boxing national federations on 6 December 2022,&quot; James McLeod, IOC Director for National Olympic Committee Relations, said in his letter to the POC.</p><p>&quot;This includes the age limit of 40,&quot; McLeod said.</p><p>Pacquiao would not qualify even through the universality rule as well.</p><p>&quot;The Universality places for the Olympic Games will not be allocated to NOCs with an average of more than eight [08] athletes in individual sports/disciplines at the last two editions of the Olympic Games [Rio and Tokyo,&quot; McLeod explained.</p><p>The Philippines had 17 athletes in Tokyo—all in individual sports—with Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal and Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio clinching silver medals and Eumir Marcial bagging bronze in boxing.</p><p>Four Filipino athletes have already punched their tickets to the Paris Olympics: pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxer Eumir Marcial.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_4eOyLbfWXM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The International Olympic Committee has denied Manny Pacquiao's bid to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, as he is beyond the age limit.</p>

The International Olympic Committee has denied Manny Pacquiao's bid to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, as he is beyond the age limit.

IOC rejects Pacquiao's bid to compete in Paris Olympics

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IOC rejects Pacquiao's bid to compete in Paris Olympics

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Published February 18, 2024 03:04 PM PHT

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Bambol Tolentino

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