It's official: Pacquiao is RP Olympic flag-bearer

MANILA, Philippines - Add Olympic flag-bearer to Manny Pacquiao’s mythical resume. The Beijing Games organizers gave way to the Philippine Olympic Committee’s request to make Pacquiao the country’s lead man in the Olympics’ opening ceremonies in August 8. The accreditation ID will be given to Pacquiao as soon as he arrives in Beijing, paving the way for the landmark designation that will see a non-participating Olympian assuming the prestigious role. The Beijing officials also informed the POC that they should get Pacquiao a visa from the Chinese Embassy for him—a hitch-free task to say the least—to be allowed entry because the accreditation ID will not be finished before Pacquiao leaves with the bulk of the delegation on August 5. “It was only Tuesday night that we got a confirmation… the head of Beijing Olympics accreditation for Southeast Asia, that they are processing Pacquiao’s accreditation. We made the request only last Monday and we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the Beijing organizers for heeding our request," said Philippine delegation secretariat head Moying Martelino. Pacquiao was appointed as special envoy and Flag bearer by no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last July 4 when the President feted the newly crowned WBC lightweight champion for being the first Asian to win four world titles in different weight class. While in Beijing, he is expected to give the 15 Olympians a pep talk to further inspire them as they seek to give Philippines its first ever Olympic gold medal. GMANews.TV