The Philippine Olympic Committee announced its decision on Monday giving Petecio and Paalam the honor Paris 2024. The two were silver medalists in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and booked a return trip through the qualifiers.
In 2021, boxer Eumir Marcial and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe carried the flag in the parade of nations in Tokyo. It was the first time a male and female flag bearer were designeted as part of gender equality efforts by the International Olympic Committee.
Petecio clinched a berth in Paris via the World Olympic Qualification Tournament 1 in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March, while Paalam earned the spot via the second and final OQT in Bangkok last June.
Meantime, the Philippines may lose eight potential gold medals in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) next year if host Thailand removes weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu, and karate in its 40-sport program.
“We already appealed to the Thai hosts the inclusion of weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu, and karate,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.
“And it’s not only the Philippines which appealed, but a majority of the games’ members,” added Tolentino, who attended the SEA Games Federation meeting in Bangkok over the weekend.
The 2025 SEA Games will be held in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, Thailand from Dec. 9 to 20.
Jiu-jitsu’s Kaila Napolis, Annie Ramirez, and Marc Lim; wushu’s Agatha Wong; karate’s Jamie Lim and Sakura Alforte; and weightlifting’s Erleen Ando and Vanessa Sarno delivered gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia last year.
“We will lose a lot of gold medals if the appeal won’t be granted,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in the meeting by POC secretary general Wharton Chan, deputy secretary-general Ali Sulit of judo, Don Caringal of volleyball, Karen Tanchangco-Caballero of sepak takraw, and Carl Sambrano of skateboard.
The Philippines will compete in all 40 medal sports in Thailand but not in demonstration sports tug-of-war and flying disc or frisbee.
The POC has yet to choose the chef de mission of Team Philippines for the 2025 Games.
