Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, silver medalists from the Tokyo Olympics, will carry the Philippine flag at the July 26 opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
At a briefing, Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), made the announcement.
Paalam, 25, won the silver medal in the men's flyweight final three years ago, losing to Great Britain's Galal Yafai in a split decision. Petecio, 32, became the first Filipino female boxer to place on the Olympic podium.
Hidilyn Diaz as the first choice
Despite not participating in this year's competition, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the nation's first-ever Olympic gold champion, was not able to receive consent to be a flag-bearer, according to Tolentino.
“Tinanong ko rin sa Paris if they will allow yung hindi ka qualified pero ikaw yung flag-bearer. Kailangan (daw) lalaro,” Tolentino said.
“So sino yung susunod na mataas, si Nesthy and Paalam kasi sila yung dalawang silver," he added.
It would have been quite a tribute for Diaz, who topped in the now-defunct 55-kilogram weightlifting category to snag the country's first ever Olympic gold medal.
Olympic athletes this year
Currently, there are 15 Filipino athletes that have secured their places in the Paris games, including other boxers Hergie Bacyadan, Aira Villegas, and Eumir Marcial; fencer Samantha Catantan; and rower Joanie Delgaco.
Additionally, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, Levi Ruivivar, and Vanessa Sarno, and weightlifters Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza.
Boxer Eumir Marcial led the Philippine flag in Tokyo 2021, alongside judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.
