Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    MANILA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Olympic officials on Thursday said Filipino icon boxer Manny Pacquiao has secured accreditation from the Beijing Games organizers as the new flag-bearer for the country's delegation at the opening.

    As the World Boxing Council lightweight champion, Pacquiao is not competing in Olympic Games, which accommodates only amateur boxers.

    Pacquiao was named the flag-bearer by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only last Friday, after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officially granted the honor to Olympic swimmer Miguel Molina.

    POC first vice president Monico Puentevella on Thursday told Xinhua that Pacquiao has got accredited by Beijing Olympic Games organizers as a sports official to be able to join the country's Olympic delegation.

    "It's official. Pacquiao will be the Philippines' first non-performing athlete to carry the country's Olympic delegation flag," Puentevella said.

    He said Pacquiao is "more than qualified" to represent the country's sportsmen as he has brought the country enormous pride for winning a string of world championship titles.

    But Puentevella stopped short of airing his personal opinion on the abrupt change of the Olympic flag-bearer. "My personal opinion is not important now, as it is the President's decision," he said.

    President Arroyo, who is slated to attend the Olympic opening on Aug. 8 with head of the states around the world, installed Pacquiao as special Olympic envoy and flag-bearer of the delegation after the iconic boxer dethroned Mexican-American David Diaz as the new WBC lightweight champion.

    POC, the solo group in charge of designating the country's flag-bearer, on Wednesday formally appointed Pacquiao to lead the Philippine delegation in Beijing.

    POC secretariat head Moying Martelino said the boxing legend now will only have to get a visa from the Chinese Embassy and the POC has all the papers ready.

    Miguel Molina, the 2007 Southeast Asian Games most outstanding male athlete, also broke the silence on the issue to verbally support Pacquiao as his replacement.

    "To me, even though I would have loved to have been flag-bearer, it's not such a big deal because at least I'll get to rest and focus on my events," Molina told the national newspaper Philippine Star in an e-mail.

    "I think based on what he has accomplished, I think he deserves it. I haven't accomplished much on the world stage outside of Southeast Asia," he added.

    Although most people have voiced support for the new flag-bearer, not everyone welcomes the change with cheers.

    "I see no problem for Pacquiao being part of the delegation, but as the flag-bearer, it seems to be an insult to our amateur players who have to see a professional to lead the delegation in sports he does not play," Ronald Chaves, assistant coach of the Philippine boxing team to the Beijing Olympics, told Xinhua.

    Compared to their counterparts at professional levels, Filipinoamateur boxers are less accomplished on the world stage in recent years. Only one boxer has earned the slot to compete in Beijing Games.

    Chavez said Harry Tanamor, the solo Filipino Olympic boxer to Beijing, has very good chances to bring back at least a bronze in the light flyweight division. The Philippine Olympic athletes have failed to yield a medal since boxer Mansueto Velasco won a silver at Atlanta Games in 1996.