Boxers Nesthy Petecio (left) and Carlo Paalam won silver medals in the last Olympics. —PDI FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—What’s better than representing your country in sports? Carrying its banner in the biggest sporting event in the world.
Just ask Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who were announced as the Philippines’ flag bearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However, with honor comes surprise and that’s exactly what Petecio felt when she heard the news that she will be the country’s representative in the most popular sporting event’s opening in France.
READ: Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio to carry PH flag in Paris Olympics
“To be honest, I didn’t expect it,” Petecio said during the Philippine Airlines’ exclusive dinner for Paris Olympians at Century Park Hotel in Manila on Wednesday.
“In my mind, I thought they would take EJ (Obiena) or Carlos Yulo as flag bearers so I was surprised. I’m blessed and thankful that I was picked as one of the people who will represent the Philippines as a flag bearer.”
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the announcement official earlier this week.
READ: Carlo Paalam says national anthem is best heard in moment of triumph
After basing off athletes’ performance in the previous Tokyo Olympics in 2022, Tolentino and the POC decided to make Petecio and Paalam the flag bearers for the Paris edition of the quadrennial sporting event.
It’s safe to say that upon hearing the news, Paalam was ecstatic and excited to represent the country to open the Paris Olympics.
“I’m so happy because we won’t just bring our surnames but we’ll also bring the Philippines; the Philippine flag so I’m so thankful and happy,” said Paalam in Filipino.
“We’ll also be fighting for more than ourselves. It’s better to hear that we’re fighting on our platform if we win [for the Philippines],” he added.
In the Tokyo edition of the Olympics, Kiyomi Watanabe and Eumir Marcial were selected as the country’s flag bearers.